MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION

OCCASIO I AL PAPER o. 36 RECORDS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF

MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION OCCASIONAL PAPER No. 36

A SURVEY OF THE CAUVERY RIVER SYSTEM WITH A MAJOR ACCOUNT OF ITS FISH FAUNA

BY K. C. Jayaram Zoological Survey C!! India, Oalcutta-700 016

AND

T~ Venkateswarlu" M. B. Ragunathan S.kern Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, Madras 600 028

Edited by the Director, Zoological Survey. of India 1982 ® Copyright 1982, Government of India

Published in August, 1982

PRICE: 1 nlana : Rs. 4~.OO Foreign : £ 6.00 $ 9,50

PRINTED ~N INDIA BY THB BANI PRESS, 16 HBMENDRA SBN STRBBT, CALCUTTA-700 006 AND PUBLISHED BY THB DIRBCTOR, ZOOLOGICAL SURVBY OP INDIA, CALCUTTA. RECORDS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA Miscellaneous Publication Occasional Paper

No. 36 1982 Pages 1-115

CONTENTS PAGE

INTRODUCTION 1 WORK PROGRAMME ... 1 AUTHORSHIP ASSIGNMENTS 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3 THE CAUVERY RIVER 3 CLIMATE AND VEGETATION 5 TRIBUTARIES 5 COLLECTING STATIONS WITH ECOLOGICAL NOTES 7 MARGINAL AND AQUATIC BIOTA 18 SYSTEMATIC LIST OF CAUVERY FISHES 20 SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT ••• 28 DISCUSSION 107 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 110

REFERENCES • • . , •• 112 INTRODUCTION Cauvery, Krishna and Godavary rivers constitute the major three ,1.er systems in . Geologically they are much older than die Oanga, Indus and Brahmaputra rivers of Northen India. The eco­ nomic prosperity of the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, and is closely intertwined with the water-supply and potentialities of these three rivers. Since historical times their. waters have been extensively utilised for agriculture, fisheries, irrigation and tllYigation purposes. In recent years they have been further subjected tD' many multi-purpose hydro-electric and other utilitarian projects. sA number of old and new barrages, w~irs, anaicuts or dams, big and amall, have been constructed across these rivers. New channels have been dug out and taken in different directions for diverse purposes. Their entire form and structure, content and quality have changed with passage of time and have also been altered by human interference and agencies. Innumerable factories, workshops, human habitations, new townships have sprung up along their banks discharging their effluents' and ~a~t~s into these rivers thereby polluting the waters. 'The quality of the water ~us markedly changed have impinged upon their. aquatic inhabitants such as fin fish and shell-fish. Moreover the introduction of many exotic fish species, plantation of cash-crops and economically valuable plants along the banks have also considerably affected the biota. Despite all such importance, unfortunately not much attention has been given to these rivers especially in respect of their bio-res0l:1rces. Their faunistic content and conlposition is very poorly known. Except some scattered piece-meal work no consolidated account of their aquatic fauna is known.

WORK PROGRAMME Under a long-term programme of an assessment of the bio-resources of these three rivers, a survey of the Cauvery river, was undertaken first. The survey was planned and exe.cuted in four stages as mentioned below. The river was divided into two stretches (i) from its confluenze with the at Kaveripattinam to Hogenaikal in Tamil Nadu and.' (ii) from its otigin at Talaicauvery to .Chikalur ( Taluq) in Karnataka. Each one of these ~ectors .was &urveyed for. two. ~~asons., 2 REe. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36 one during the premonsoon period and another during the post-mon­ soon period. The period and personnel were as below.- Sector I. Stretch of the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu (from Kaveripattinam to Hogenaikal). Premonsoon perioa.-March 17, 1973 to April 18, 1Q73. Dr. K. C. Jayaram, Shri M. B. Raghunathan, Shri S. N. Nayak, Shri M. Arumugam. Postmonsoon pl}riod.-January 25, 1974 to February 24, 1974. Dr. K. C. J3:yaram, Shri T. Venkateswarlu, Shri N. Govindan, Shri P. ~gambaram. Sector II. Stretch of the Cauvery river in Karnataka (frorn Talaicauvery to Chikalur). Postmonsoon period. -September 28, 1975 to October 23, 1975. Dr. K. C. ]ayaram, Shri M. B. Raghunathan, Shri K. T. Dhanapal, Shri P. Egambaram. Premonsoon period. -May 3, 1977 to May 14, 1977. Dr. K. C. Jayaram, Shri P. Ponnurangam, Shri N. Janakiraman. Besides collections of fishes in principal, other aquatic inhabitants such as tadpoles, prawns, crabs, molluscs \\'ere also· obtained. Marginal biota, temperature of air and \vater and other characterstics of the river Were noted. Relevant meterological data such as rainfall, humidity, etc. were obtained from the India Meterological department of the Govt. of India. This paper presents for the first time a comprehensive account of the fish fauna of the Cauvery river system in its entirety, besides a summary of other biota.

AUTHORSHIP ASSIGNMENTS The idea to undertake an ichthyological survey of the Cauvery river system in its entirety was mooted, planned and executed by the first author. Excepting for a short period (10.2.74 to 24.2.74) all the four field survey programmes were undertaken by the senior author. The identification and writing up of this paper was al~o done by him. The second author (Sri T. Venkateswarlu) could accompany the party only during the postmonsoon survey of the river in Tamil Nadu (25.1.74 to 24.2.74) and also acted as the leader of the team for a brief period (10.2.74 to 24.2.74). He also made a preliminary identification, and took certain counts and measurements. The third author Shri M. B. Raghunathan was a member of the party during the premonsoon survey · . ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES

of the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu (17.3.73 to 18.4.73) and also during the postmonsoon work in Karnataka (28.9.75 to 23.10.75). He also assisted in the identification, measurements and in the write up of the details of the river and its tributaries.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Such a survey as undertaken by us would not have been possible but for the willing cooperation and active participation of the concerned state and' district fishery officials of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments. We are indebted to the Directors of the two State Fishery departments, especially to Sarvashri Jaya Raj, Muddanna, C. G, Krishnamurthy, Malliapps Urs of Karnataka fisheries, Sarvashri Choodamani, Krishnaswami, Govindaswamy, Govindaraju of Tamil Nadu fisheries, for making all arrangements and assistance in the field. We are thankful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India for facilities. Some fin ray counts of a few Puntiu8 species wer'e taken by Smt. T. J. Indra, Museum Assistant, Z. S. I., S. R. S., Madras. The marginal biota were identified by our colleagues in the Z. S. I. at Calcutta. We are thankful to all of them for their help.

ABBREVIATIONS AND CONDENSATIONS USED A=Anal fin, BD=Body depth, BM (NH) = British Museum (Natural History), London, D=Dorsal fin, Ex =Example, examples, HCPD= Least height of caudal peduncle, lOW = Interorbital width, LCPD= Length of caudal peduncle, LH=Head length, LL=Lateral line, PDS=Predorsal scales, SL=Standard length, S. R. S=Southern Regio" nal Station, Stn == Station (== locality of collection), TL= Total length, ZSI=Zoological Suryey of India.

THE CAUVERY RIVER Affectionately called by the tamils the "Ponni" meaning the gold giver or gold bearer, the Cauvery river is India's fourth largest and Tamil Nadu's biggest. It takes its origin at the hills (12°25'N, 75°34 E) in the Sahayadri range in the Wes~ern ghats at Coorg district, Karnataka State at an elevation of 1355 m altitude. It traverses nearly 850 km draining approximately an area of 89, 600 km 9 en route. The Hirenge hole with its tributaries qrain the entire northern plateau of Mercara and contribute an immense bulk of waters to the Cauvery. The average rainfall of the catchment area is certainly not less than 500 ems and is spread over eight months of the year. At its origin at Talai Cauvery, it·is a small channel emanating from a perennial spring. (Plates VI, Fig. 41, VIII, Fig. 53). It runs through a deep gorge of thick 4 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA,.OCC~ PAPER NO. 36

evergreen jungle for about 19 km in a narrow channel of hardly thre'e meters width up to where it is joined by its first tributary the Kannige river. The upper course of the river exhibits all the chara­ cterstics of the typical Malanad zone of the plateau, namely the river being very swift, flowing through deep gorges and steep ravines developing a number of rapids and small falls. Such a course is wit­ nessed up to Krishna Raja Sagar dam (K. R. S. dam, 12°20'N, 76°32'E), 16 km near Mysore town. This dam incidentally is the first man made barrier across its course. The river is joined by Hemavathi and Lakshmanathirtha, important tributaries both having their sources in the rainy Malanad and sub"arid eastern Mysore plateau.

At Srirangapatnam the river bifurcates into two branches because .of the structural peculiarities of the bedrock and the two branches reunite again at a place called Sangam about 5 km from Srirang­ .apatnam town. Just below this dam and abovs its confluence with the river crosses the 610 m. contour at Sivasamudram Island (12°16'N, 77°13'E) on either side of which it branches off in a succession of falls and rapids to a total drop of about 85 meters.

Below Sivasam~dram the river plunges through a succession of wild gorges with right angle bends conforming to the NWjSE and SWINE stress of the plateau edge. Pannandu chakravani (= 12 whirl pools) Megatadu (== goat leap) are some of the landmarks in this course. The Hogenaikal falls (at Wadepati with a drop of about 18 meters may be taken as the end of its plateau course (Spate, 1957). The second rnan made barrier "the dam" is placed in the narrow gorge west of Salem at Mettur (11°52' N, 77°50 E) in Tamil Nadu. Below Mettur the river turns southwards maintaining this direction for a long distance till it reaches where it takes a south-easterly direction. l'he river from Sivasamudram to Erode is joined by a number of tributaries namely, Amaravathy, Arkavathi, Bhavani, Kabbani, Kodamurutty etc.

Below Mettur the Cauvery flows across a vast monotonous plain almost a level land. The gradient is very gentle and the flow becomes almost sluggish. Near 10°52 N, 78°44 E, another place of sanctity, 16 km west the , another articial irrigation regulator branches off the Coleroon from the main Cauvery. The Coleroon is mainly designed to take a\vay the excess flood waters of the Cauvery and runs from upper Anaicut to near Porto. Novo as a separate effluent stream. Before Tiruchy is reached the Cauvery maintains an easterly direction and flows with a continuous process . of silt deposition. At Grand Anaicut the fourth barrier on its course, JAYARAM : CAOVERY FISHES 5 a large masonary dam dating to the peried of Karikala Chola 200 A D, bas been constructed beyond which the river is well monitored into several irrigation channels and weirs such as the V. V. R. Dam, ~tc. which drains the stream of almost every drop of its water. This system of tapping its water is so well organised that the Cauvery is considered as the best utilised river system in southern India. Whe'n the river reaches the Bay of Bengal at Kaveripattinam, it is an insigni- ficant small brook of hardly 3 or 4 meters wide.

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION The middle course of the River Cauvery is completely land locked arid being a table land suffers from insufficient rains. The temperature conditions are on an average less than in other parts (see Table 1) because altitude lowers temperature. The eastern part of the basin is influenced by the Bay of Bengal and western parts by the Arabian sea. This is the reason why the lower valley gets more rain from north-east monsoon and the upper basin gets rain from south west monsoon. The watershed of the Cauvery as already stated is very near the western edge of the Sahayadri ranges of hills and being at higher elevations and near to the Arabian sea it is natural that this part of the basin should have maximum rainfall in the June-September months. The effects of inter-tropical convergence of two tropical air masses which dominate the climate of a major part of India is felt only to some extent. But again it is in climate as in the case of physiography that there is certain amount of regional homegeneity in the entire basin. The distribution of rainfall over the entire basin is characterized by two maxima, one in the month of Junl! and September and the other from October to January. The total amount of rainfall near the entire basin is about 43" but it v~ries unevenly and irregular in occurrences. The data of temperature, rainfall, humidity are summarised in table I. The upper basin is covered with evergreen wet forests, which some time revel in luxuriance and are characterized by stratification and multipl~city of species. The middle basin is to have wood land vegetation but the region is so much put into use that we cannot speak of virgin vegetation. There is the secondary growth of scrub and near \vater course and low land zone there may be cover of open wood landse

TRIBUTARlES 1. River Kannige is a small tributary in Coorg which joins the Cauvery at ,Bhagamandala about 16 km from Brhamagiri hills of the western ghat region. 6 RLc. ZOOL. SURV. INOlA, Oce. PAPER No. 36 2. Rive1' Hemavathy is one of the important tributaries of River Cauvery in Karnataka, arising near Ballarayan Durga at an elevation of 1506 meters. This joins Cauvery at Krishnarajasagar dam, draining, north of Coorg, forming the extreme northern boundary between Coorg and Mysore and runs eastwards. Collections were made from this river near Holenarasipur and S. R. D. Katte. 3. River Kabbani with a good catchment ~nd heavy rainfall from south west monsoon, arises near Vayittiri at an altitude of 2330 m. It joins River Cauvery at Thirumukudar Nal'sipur. Collections were n1ade frotn this river at T. Narsipur and Nanjangud. 4. River Shimsha an important tributary in Karnataka, arising at an altitude of 1387 m near Sivaganga joins River Cauvery after Sivasa.. mudram falls. Collections were made from this river near Maddur. 5. River Arakavathy is a small tributary in Karnataka arising at an altitude of 1467 m in Nandidurg and joining the River Cauvery after Sivasamudraln falls. 6. River Bhavani is a major tributary of River Cauvery in Tamil Nadu, arising near Doddapedda, Nilgiris at an altitude of 2637 m. This river joins Cauvery at Bhavani town at an altitude of 166 m. dam is constructed on River Bhavani at Bhavanisagar, 70 km from Bhavani town where intensive fish culture is being undertaken. 7. River Amaravathy. After River Noyyal's confluence, Cauvery takes a turn towards east. River Amaravathy, arises at an altitude of 2696 m in Palni hills (Anaimudi) and joins Cauvery at about 7 km east of town. River Amaravathy has a sandy bottom and collections were made at Kothampalayam near Karur. 8. River Ooleroon is the northern branch from Upper Anaicut, being the main distributary of the River Cauvery. The two branches namely Cauvery and Coleroon unite below again to form the island of Srirangam. The Grand Anaicut is constructed at the junction of River Cauvery and River Coleroon. Mullets in large numbers were noted in River Coleroon at Grand Anaicut. Coleroon river runs north east and disch~rges into Bay of Bengal a little south of Porto Novo. River Cauvery branches off into Kodamurutti, Arasalar, Vennar, Vettar and numereus other smaller stream's forming the vast Cauvery delta. Some of these are.- 9. River Vennar is one of the important branches of River Cauvery forming the fertile delta. This river branches near from Cauvery and joining with Bay of Bengal near Vedaranyam- JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 7

Muthupet swamp. The main regulator near Thanjavur is Vennar.. Vettar regulator at Thenperambur, 18 km west of the town. 10. River Vettar also branches off from River Cauvery in the same place as Vennar. One distributary of Vennar also joins with Vettar at Kodavasal. River Vettar joins the Bay of Bengal near Nagore and . 11. River Arasalar. After and before , River Arasalar separates from River Cauvery. Cauvery-Arasalar dam (C. A. Dam) situated at Mettu street 18 km north west of Kumbakonam is an important fishing centre. Here fishing is done mainly by castnet and dragnets. 12. River Kodamurutti is one of the important branches of River ,Cauvery separating at Thirukattupalli. Fish collections were made at Mudikondan-Kodamurutti regulator (M. K. regulator) at village Sundara­ perumalkoil and Thirdmalarajan-Kodamurutty (T. K. head) near village Rajagiri. River Kodamurutti itself separates near Papanasam into Mudikondan and Thirumalarajan river.

COLLECTING STATIONS WITH ECOLOGICAL ,NOTES 1. Fish market, Mayuram town. Catch reported from Manjalar river near Vadagarai, ca 8 km from Mayuram town. 17.3.73. 2. Fish market, Mayuram town. Catch reported from tanks and ponds in the town. 17.3.73. 3. Fish market, Mayuram town, Catch reported from Uppanar river near Kaveripatt~nam which is a brackish water stream. 17.3.73. 4. Tiruvalangadu, 16 km west of Mayuram town. Collected from a dry irrigation channel with little water, ca 3 meters wide, sandy bottom, marginal vegetation sparse. 17.3.73 ; 25.1.74. 5. River Cauvery at Tiruvalangadu at the regulator with River Vikra­ man, 16 km west of Mayuram town. 17.3.73 ; 25.1.74. River 20 meters wide, flow moderate. Fishing done by drag net. The river outlet was dammed with stems of' plantain trees placed between stone platforms. The congregating fish, mostly Puntiu8 ticto were scooped out with the drag net. Some were' caught by cast net from water pools formed below regulator where, because of poor demand, CirrhinU8 14 eba were stocked alive by fishermen. 17.3.73. (Plate II, Fig. 1) During post-monsoon period (25. 1.74) an average of 20 fishe­ rmen took ten buckets of fish of about 500 kg weight in total. 8 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA; OCC. PAPER No~ 36

Mostly the composition was of Puntius ticto, p. jilamento8'U8, O. reba. 6. River Vikraman at Tiruvalangadu regulator 16 km west of Mayuram town. 25.1.74. (Plate II, Fig. 2) River ca 40 m wide. Caught with cast net and drag nets. Mostly sluggish fishes such as Mastacembelus, Xenentodon were obtained. 7. River Cauvery at Melaiyur regulator, 18 km east of Mayuram town. 18.3.74 ; 26.1.74. (Plate II, Fig. 3) River shallow with muddy bottom with six to eight meter width, running as a meandering stream (18.3.73). Greenish, sluggish 30 meter wide, 1.5 meter deep (26.1.74). Fishing with cast net,. gill net. Rkinomugil,corsula ripe with oozing eggs were obtained in this locality (18.3.73). 8. River Cauvery at Mayuram town. 18.3.73, 20.3.73, 27".1.74. River near regulator ca three of four meters deep, but sluggish, greenish in colout. River used for bathing ·humans, cattle. Cast nets employed. 9. River Cauvery at Kaveripattinam, from its confluence with Bay of Bengal to Dhatmakulam ca 4 km upstream, 24 km east of Mayuram To\vn. 18.3.73 ; 26.1.74. River at confluence hardly 3 or 4 meters wide, one to two meters deep, tidal influence not beyond two or three km (18.3.73). Mostly cast net was used. 10. , six km west of Lalpet. 19.3.73; 27.1.74. Lake 38. 84 km, 3878 hectares in water spread. Maximum storage capacity 40.95.cub m. Maximum width ca 115 meter, depth 12 to 15 meters. Water slightly bluish or light green in colour. Vegetation thlck on banks with timber yielding trees. Submerged shrubs and weeds plenty (19.3.73). Nets generally employed are Rangoon· nets, cast nets, hook and line, gill nets. When water level goes down many catfishes such as A. aor, A. seenghala, W. attu are caught. Some exotic fishes Oyprinu8 carpiQ communis, Tilapia m08sambica have been introduced. Water Birds, Teals seen in plenty. 11. River Arasalar at Sakkottai, 2 km east of Kumbakonam town on road to . Collected at -regulator on Arasalat and Nattar rivers. 21.3.73, ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 9

12. River Kudamurutty at its bifurcation- with Mudikondan river, 11 km west of Kumbakonam town, popularly known as "MK" head. Collected near shutters on the river, below the tail end with help of \vall nets. 23.3.73; 29.1.74. (Plat II, Fig. 4) 13. River Mudikondan at its bifurcation from River Kudamurutty 11 km west of KumbakonaIIl town. 23.3.73 ; 29.1.74. River full with water covering both e~bankments and deep (29.1.74). 14. River Kudamurutty at Rajagiri at its bifurcation as Tirumalairajan, Kudamurutty, 16 km west of Kumbakonam town. Pop~larly known as "TK" head. 23.3.73 ; 29.1.74. Drag Net. 15. Nursery tanks on bank of River Kudamurutty at Rajagiri, TK head. 29.1.74. (Plate II, Fig. 5) 16. River Cauvery at its bifurcation with Veera ch01an river at Manan­ jeri village 8 km east of Kumbakonam Town. 22.3.73. River shallow, n1eandering. Collected below regulator.

17. River Arasalar at Cauvery-Arasalar dam at Mettu Street, 18 km north west of Kumbakonam Town. Popularly known as C. A. Dam. 23.3.73 ; 29.1.74. (Plate II Fig. 6) Fishes are extensively trapped taking advantage of their jumping against the current. A bamboo frame with a gunny spread 1 m Xl m square is suspended from above to just 0.3 meter water level at a point away from the sluice gates of the regulator. The fishes jump against the onrushing current and land straight oOn to the gunny. 18. River Cauvery at C.A. dam, Mettu street. 29.1.74. 19. Putthar-Valarvar °river regulator branching from Kodamurutty river at village Vadaseri, 28 km east of Kumbakonarn Town. 24.3.73. Collected from a pool in the dried up bed of the river. Myatu8 vittatu8 was dominant. 20. River Coleroon at , 26 km east of Kumbakonam Town with Vadavar branching. 22.3.73; 30.1.74. (Plate II, Figs. 7, 8). River very wide, water flowing as a meandering stream. Fishing was done with help of cast net along the southern bank where water was about 3 m deep. Fishermen use logs of Moringa tree as floats and swim about. Rang

~ 10 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

21. River Vennar at Pamaniyar, Vennar, and Korayar head popularly known as PVK head, 23 km south from Kumbakonam on Nida­ mangalam Road. 31. 1. 74. (Plate II, Fig. 9) 22. River Paminiyar at PVK head. 31. 1. 74. (Plate II, Fig. 10) 23. Nursery tanks at Korayar river bank. 31. 1. 74. 24. Thanjavur fish market, purchased. Reported catch from Vennar­ Vettar regulator popularly known as "~Ve V. R." 25. 3. 73. 25. River Vennar at its bifurcation from River Vettar at V. V. R. near Thenperambur village, 18 km west of Thanjavur town. 26. 3. 73 ; 4. 2. 74. Water flow moderate, not deep. Fished with cast net and drag net (26. 3. 73). River full, current fast, deep; clear (4. 2. 74). (Plate III, Fig. 22). 26. River Vettar at V. V. R. near Thenperambur village, 18 km west of Thanjavur town. 26. 3. 73 ; 4. 2. 74. River one or two meters deep, slow, moving as a meandering stream. Water clear (4. 2. 74) fished with cast net, drag net. (Plate III, Figs. 23, 24). 27. River Vadavar, old Vadavar channel at V. V. R. near Thenperam­ bur village, 18 km west of Thanjavur town. 4. 2. 74. Current fast, deep. 28. Nursery tanks on bank of Vettar river at Thenperambur village 18 km west of Thanjavur town. 26. 3. 73. 29. fish market, purchased. Catch from River Cauvery. Town situated 13 km north west of Thanjavur. 27.3.73; 2.2.74. 30. River Cauvery at Thiruvaiyaru, 13 km. north west of Thanjavur. Collected with cast net and drag net below road bridge. 27. 3. 73 ; 2.2.74. (Plate II, Fig. 11) River full with turbid water. Current fast, depth four or five meters (2.2.74). 31. River Kudamurutty at Kandiyur village 2.5 km south east of Thiru­ vaiyaru town. 27. 3. ·73 ; 2. 2. 74. (Plate II, Fig. 12) River as a slow, clear meandering shallow stream in middle. River bed dry, sandy in patches. Water stretch hardly 0.25 meter ·wide. 32. River Vettar at Ammanpettai village, 8 km south ~ast of Thiru­ vaiyaru town. 27.3.73; 2. 2. 74. River fulL current fast, deep. (Plate III, Fig. 13) 33. River Vennar at Palliagraharam village 5 km north west of Than­ javnr. 27. 3. 73; 2. 2. 74. River full, fast flowing, water turbid Z. 2. 74. (Plate III, Fig. 14) ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 11 34. River Vadavar at Karuthatallgudi village, one km north west of Thanjavur town. 27. 3. 73; 2. 2. 74. (Plate III, Fig. 15). River full, turbid. Current fast. Heavily abused by men and cattle (2. 2. 74). Caught with cast net. 35. River Cauvery at Grand Anaicut 43 km west of Thanjavur town. 28. 3. 73; 3. 2. 74; 1. 2. 77. (Plate III, Figs 16, 18) A grand masonory granite dam constructed across Cauvery river by Karikala Chola of 2nd century A. D. This regulates the water into many irrigation channels and rivulets so that almost 98% of the river water is utilised. The excess flow, if any, during flood season is diverted into Coleroon river. Water stagnant. Bed rocky with boulders. Water reddish in colour reported to be due to the effluent of a distillary 16 km upstream near Tiruchy (28. 3. 73). Water clear, very fast especially below regulator. Fished with cast nets. (3. 2. 74 ; 1. 2. 77). 36. River Coleroon at Grand Anaicut 43 km west of Thanjavur town with Uyyakondan at\a distance. 28. 3.73 ; 3.2.74 ; 1.2.77. (Plate III, Fig. 17) Water fast flowing, deep and clear. Mullets predominant, swimming with their eyes above water level. With the throw of cast net they move away fast. Locally called "Rockets" (28.3.73). Water slow moving, moderately deep as a meandering stream (3.2.74; 1.2.77). Fished with cast nets. (Plate III, Fig. 20). 37. River Vennar at Grand Anaicut, 43 km west of Thanjavur town. 28.3.73 ; 3.2.74 ; 1.4.77. Cast net. (Plate III, Fig. 19). 38. River Uyyakondan at its co~£luence with River Cauvery at Grand Anaicut. 3.2.74. River highly polluted with molasses of a sugar mill 16 km upstream at Tiruchy. Fishes mostly M ystu8 vittatus, Puntiu8 species die and float which villagers scoop. Vultures plenty. 3.2.74. 39. River Cauvery at Tirukkattupally, 16 km west of Grand Anaicut. 28.3.73 ; 3.2.74; 1.2.77. Fished below regulator ,,~ith drag nets by damming river flow. Current very fast. Water clear (3.2.74). 40. River Kudamurut~y at its bifurcation from-River Cauvery at Ti~k· l

in the meaningful Tamil starts from here,. The two tivers Cauvery and Coleroon encircl~ the to "meet again at Grand Anaicut 16 km east of Tiruchy. Cast net. 42. River Coleroon at Upper Anaicut. 30.3.73. Water flowing as a slow meandering stream along the north bank. Drag net, cast net in puddles of water. 43. 'Fish market, Tiruchirapalli town. Catch reported from Cauvery, Coleroon, and tanks. 31.3.73; 10.2.74; 11.2.74. 44. River Coleroon at Thirumullaivasal 2 km east' of road bric\ge on Madras Trunk Road, near Srirangam. Fished along south hank. Cast net, bamboo traps, drag net. 31.3.73; 9.2.74. Fishermen move from place to place to locate stretches of de,ep water puddles. (Plate IV, Fig. 29). 45. Fish market at Kulithalai town 36 km west of Tiruchy. Catch reported from' River C~uveIY and Mayanur irrigation canal. 2.4.73. 46. River Cauvery at Kulithalai town. 5.4.73; 8.2.74. River very broad, stream meandering as a central channel deep at places along bank (5.4.73). 47. Mayanur canal at Kulithalai town. 5.4.73 ; 7.2.74. Close meshed cast net. 48~ River Cauvery at Mayanur below May~nur regulator. 21 km west of Kulithalai town. 3.4.73 ; 7.2.74. Cast net. (~late IV, Fig. 26). 49. River Coleroon at Vathalai. Caught froIll Aiyan channel. 6.2.74. (Plate IV, Fig. 25). 50. Aiyan channel, an irrigation "channel from Cauvery river at Vathalai village. 6.2.74. Cast net. Fished below regulator. Fast current, clear water. Plenty of "Half beaks" seen. 51. River Arnravathy a tributary to Cauvery at Kothampalayam Village 32 km west of Karur town. 4.4.73. River flowing over a rocky boulderous bed. An overflow dam is constructed at this village. Cast nets. 52. Fish market at , opposite bank of Bhavani town. 6.4.73 ; 17.2.74. 53. at Bhavanisagar town 72 km west of Bhavani town. Dam placed across the confluence of and . 7.4.73. Rangoon nets. Water spread 90 sq km. Fish of 600 kg. to one ton landed daily. jAYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 13

54. Fish market at Erode town. Catch reported from Cauvery river. 8.4.73 ; 15.2.74. 55. River Cauvery at Pallipalayam, 14 km from Bhavani, 2 km from Erode. 8.4.73 ; 14.2.74. (Plate IV, Figs. 30, 31). River bed very rocky \vith big boulders, very wide forming rock pools, clear. Paper- mill effluent and town sewages led into river 8. 4. 73. Rotenone, Bleaching powder, traps. 56. River Cauvery at Bhavani town. 8. 4. 73; 16. 2. 74. River bed boulderous, water clear. Town sewage led into river. Bleaching powder. (Plate IV, Figs. 32, 33). 57. River Bhavani at Bhavani town. 8. 4. 73. ; 16. 2. 74. Bleaching powder, cast nets in puddles. 58. River Cauvery at Jedarpalayam. 43 km east of Bhavani town. 9. 4. 73 ; 15. 2. 74. River on a rocky bed, broad about one km wide. An overflow dam is constructed acro~s the river besides shutters. Coracles in use. Cast _nets. 59. Mettur reservoir on River Cauvery. at Pannavadi 19 km west of Mettur. 11. 4. 73. An upper reach of the main reservoir where water is shallow. A main fishing centre. 60. Mettur reservoir on River Cauvery at . Keerakaranur, 17 km north east of Mettur. 12. 4. 73. Drift gill nets. Situated further upstream wherefrom the reservoir on River Cauvery forms the water stretch, this is the second important fish landing centre. 61. River Cauvery at Periapallam viJIage 10 km east of Mettur town, 13. 4. 73 ; 18. 2. 74. (Plate IV, Figs. 35, 36). River bed with heavy large boulders, shingles, rocks, water very clear with pools, not deep. Bleaching powder. Cast nets. 62. River Cauvery at Ammapetai village 21 kn1 east of Mettur town. 13. 4. 73 ; 18. 2. 74. (Plate IV, Fig. 34). River course tortuous, over rocky bed. Water clear, not fast, moderate. Cast net, drag net, rotenone. 63. River Cauvery below Mettur Dam. 14.4.73; 19.2.74. Rocky bed, clear, fast flowing. Cast net in puddles. (Plate V, Figs. 37, 38). 64. River Cauvery at Hogenaikal, 46 km west of Dharmapuri. 16.4.73.; 21. 2. 74. (Plate V, Fig. 40). REC. ZOOL. SURV. INOlA, Oce. PAP~R No .• ,.36

River cutting through rocks and. forming cascades. Deep water pools ars formed. Cast net. 65. River Cauvery at Bhagamandala, 33 km south west of Mercara, Coorg dist. 756 m MSL. 4. 10. 75 ; 4. 5. 77. (Plate VI, Fig. 43). River six or seven meter wide, water clear, fast flowing west to east. 71°F water temp. 74°F air temp. 4. 10. 75. River narrow, fast, hardly a meter deep. Water clear, muddy, forming pools, sandy bed. Marginal vegetation thick. Sky over­ cast. It had rained heavily everynight since three days. Colle-cted with fine muslin drag net. 4. 5. 77. 66. River Kannige at Bhagamandala, 33 km south west of Mercara, Coorg dist. 756 m MSL. 4. 10. 75 ; 4. 5. 77. (Plate VI, Fig. 42). A small stream, the first tributary of the Cauvery. Stream turbid, fast with deep pools, hardly a ~eter wide with steep, thick forest covered banks. 4. 10. 75. River fast, narrow, one or two meters wide, clear water, sandy bottom. Traps, castnets, drag nets. 4. 5. 77. 67 . River Harangi at , taluq, Coorg dist., 36 km south east of Mercara. 4. 10. 75 ; 5. 5. 77. (Plate VI, Figs. 45, 46). River 20 meters wide, water with a greenish hue, slow over a ro~ky bed. three or four meters deep in middle. Water temp. 72.5°F, air temp. 71.5°F. 4. 10. 75. River sluggish, water dark coloured, moderately cold, flowing over rocks and boulders, one to three meter deep. 5. 5. 77. 68. River Cauvery at Kudige, Somwarpet, Coorg dist. 5. 10. 75 ; 5. 5. 77. (Plate VI, Fig. 44). River turbid 15 or 16 meters wide. 3 meter deep. Sluggish. Marginal vegetation sparse. 5. 10. 75. River muddy, highly turbid, brownish due to heavy rains. Sluggish, i meter wide, 3 meter deep. 5. 5. 77. Cast net. 69. River Cauvery at Ramanathapura, 36 km north-east of Hole Narsi­ pur, Hassan dist. 5. 10. 75. River 15 or 16 meters wide, with a strong current and clear water. A fish sanctuary by side of temple present. Large sized Puntiu,8 carnaticu8 found. 5. 10. 75. 70. Fish market, Hole Narsipur, Hassan dist. Catch reported from River Hemavathi. 5. 10. 75 ; 6. 5. 77. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 15 71. River Hemavathi at Hole Narsipur, Hassan dist. 90 "km north west of l\1ysore. 6.10.75 ; 6.5.77. (Plate VII, Fig. 47). River about 20 meter wide flowing over a rocky, boulderous bed forming rock pools. Paddy fields along margins. Water current fast, turbid. 6.10.75. River water clear, fast at places forming deep puddles. 6.5.77. Cast net. 72. River Hemavathi at Hulivala village 16 km north-west of Hole Narsipur town. 7.5.77. River bed mixed, boulderous and sandy. Cultivated fields on either bank. River hardly 0.25 meters wide. Water below, clear, forming puddles. Castnet, traps. 73. River Hemavathi at S. R. D. Katte (= Sri Rama Deva Katte) 12 km west of Hole Narsipur town. 7.5.77. (Plate VII, Figs. 48, 52). River flowing over rocky and boulderous bed. A barrage is constructed across the river which falls over a broad 10 meter high wall as a cascade. Heavy rains preceeding the catch. Cast nets. 74. River Cauvery at Chunchana Katte 12 km from K. R. Nagar (=Krishna Raja Nagar). 8.10.75 ; 8.5.77. River very shallow with weeds overgrown. Hardly t meter deep, about 10 meters wide, but stream confined to a narrow strip mean­ dering along either banks. Cattle, men using the water for washing, the water is polluted. Cast net. 8.10.75. River cuts through a granite rocky mountain forming cascades and falls. Current very rapid, water clear. Bed with pebbles and shingles. Fishermen obstruct a narrow gully called "Sita Balta" with twigs, bamboo etc. and thus stop the flow of water in the narrow channel. A reservoir of water is formed above the falls which is declared a sanctuary but poaching being common fishes are caught. Traps, cast nets, gillnets. 8.5.77.

75. River Lakshmanathirtha at Bolanhalli village 12 km south east of K. R. Nagar. 8.5.77 ; 9.10.75. River very shallow with weeds overgrown. Hardly! meter deep about 10 meters wide, but stream confined to a narrow strip meandering along either banks. Cattle and men using the water for washing, the water is polluted. Cast net. 8,5.77, 16 REC. ZOOL. SuaVe INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

76. River Lakshmanathirtha at Hunsur town, Coorg dist., 19 km west of K. R. Nagar. 9. 10. 75. Water very shallow, turbid, brownish in colour and stream slug. gish. Clayey soil. River 25-30 meter wide. Water temp. 71°F; air temp. 73°F. Cast net. 77. River Cauvery at K. R. S. (=Krishna Raja Sagar) dam, 19 km west of Mysore city. 10. 10. 75 ; 9. 5. 77. Water spread 139.85 sq km depth 38 meter. River cutting through big boulders over rocky_ terrain. Current fast. 10. 10. 75. Water spread 126. sq. km. Level much reduced, running out only through spillway. Rocky bed exposed. (9.5.77). Cast nets. 78. ,River Cauvery at Srirangapatnam, 19 km north of Mysore city. 11.10.75; 13.5.77. (Plate VIII, Fig. 54). River flowing over rocky bed, interspersed with sandy patches. A barrage is constructed across the river which is about a kilometer wide. Cast nEts. 11.10.75.' Bamboo traps. 79. River Ka~bani at Nanjankud town 26 km south of Mysore City. 13. 10. 75; 10. 5. 77. River full with water due to rains, muddy, brownish, turbid, fast, four or five meters deep, 0.5 to one kilo­ meter wide. River bed sandy. 10. 5. 77. Cast nets. Water slow, sluggish. Water temperature 75°F; air temperature 73°F (13.10.75). 80. River Kabbani at T. Narsipur 35 km from Mysore. 14. 10. 75. 81. River Cauvery at T. Narsipur after its confluence with Kabbani 14. 10 ..75 ; 11. 5. 77. A "hapa" net. 82. Fish ma~ket at Bonnur 16 km north of T. Narsipur. Catch reported from River Cauvery. 15. 10. 75. 83. River Ulubella, a small rivulet joining Cauvery river at Bluff, 52 m alt. Sivasamudrum, dist. 17. 10. 75.

River flowing over a deep gorge north to south abov~ the falls, about 3 meter of \vater stretch. Pebbly and rocky bottom. Swift, clear water, hardly 0.5 meter deep. Marginal vegetation barren except grass and shr,ubs. Width of ravine about 70 to 80 meters. Cast nets. 17. 10. 75. 84. River Cauvery above the falls at Sivasamudram. 18. 10. 75, 13. 5. 77. (Plate VIII, Fig. 55)., Cast nets, Bleaching powder, Rotenone, Endrin. 85. River Cauvery at Dasanrura, 3 km near Kollega1. 18.10.75; 12.5.77. River 100 meter ,vide, moderately fast, and turbid, bottom sandy. lv1arginal vegetation cultiv~ted fields. 18.10.75. River flowing ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 17

over sandy bottom. 3 to 15 meters deep, fast, brownish, turbid. 12.5.77. (Plate VIII, Stn. 56). Cast nets. 86. River Kodihalla, a small streamlet joining Shimsha river at Maddur, 20.10.75. Stream 15 meter wide, clear. Water temperature 79°F; air temperature 76°P (20.10.75). Cast nets. 87. River Shimsha at Maddur. 20.10.75. River 100 meter wide, fast, very turbid and deep, sandy bottom, interspersed with boulderous rocks. l\1arginal vegetation cultivated fields. Water temperature 79°F; air temperature 81 °P. 20.10.75. 88. Nursery tanks of State fisheries department at Maddur. 20.10.75. 89. River Cauvery at Chikalur, Kollegal taluq. 13.5.77. River about 100 to 200 meter wide, flowing over rocky and boulde­ rous bed, very fast, deep, turbid. Marginal vegetation shrub jungle. Cast nets. 90. Fish market, Mysore City. Catch reported from Cauvery at K. R. s. 14. 5. 77. MARGINAL AND AQ.UATIC BIOTA Although no extensive studies were undertaken to study the gut content of fishes collected and thereby their food habits, or their predator prey relationship, marginal, submerged and bottom biota known from the Cauvery system were noted. These indicate in a way the food availa ble and other associations.

Annelida Oligo chaeta Nai8 sp. Megascolex mawritii TUbifex tubifex

Mollusca Class GASTROPODA Subclass PROSOBRANCHIA Order MESOGASTROPODA Family PILIDAE Pila virens (Lamarck) Bellamya bengalensis (Lamarck) Bellamya dis8imilis (Muller)

Family THIARIDAE Subfamily THlARINAE Thiara (Thiara) 8cabra (MUller) Thiara (Stenomelania) torulosa (Bruguiere) Thiara (Tarebia) lineata (Gray) Thiara (Melanoides) tuberculata ( M tiller)

Subfamily PALUDOMINAE Paludomus monile Hanley & Theobald Subclass PULMONATA

Order BASOMMATOPHORA Family LYMNAEIDAB Lymnaea (Pseudo8uccinea) luteoZa Lamarck Lymnaea sp. )AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 19

Family PLANORBIDAE Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes) Order STYLOMMATOPHORA Family ARIOPHANTIDAE Oryptozona (Xestina) semirugata (Beck). Class BIVALVIA Order EULAMELLIBRANCHIAT A Family UNIONIDAE Lamellidens corrianus Lea Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck). Parreysia (Pa1'reysia) favidens (Benson)

Crustacea Oaridina nilotica Roux Potamon leschnaulti M. Edw. Paratelphusa (Oz?ootelphusa) bouvieri Rathbun. M acrobrachium malcolmsonii M acrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Insecta Coleoptera Odonata Dictyoptera Orthoptera Diptera Plecoptera Hemiptera Trichoptera Hymenoptera Ephemeropteta Lepidoptera

Amphibia

Rana curtipes J erdon (1~ad poles) Rana oyanophylyctis Schneider Rana hexadactyla Lesson Bufo melanostictU8 Schneider Microhyla rubra (Jerdon) 2.0 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36 Reptilia N atrix piscator (S chn.) Orocodilus palustris Less. Geoemyda trijuga (Schweigger) Te8tudo elegans Schoepf Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre) Trionyx leithi Gray

Aves Halcyon smyrnens'is f U8ca Bodd. Strix leptogrammica indranee Sykes Haliastur indus indus (Bodd.) Milvus migrans govinda Sykes Amaurornis phoenicuru8 phoenicurus (Pennant) Pelecanus philippensis philippensis Grne!. Phalacrocorax niger (Veiell) Ardeola grayii (Sykes)

Mammalia Lutra indica, Gray

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF CAUVERY FISHES Order ELOPIFORMES Family ELOPIDAE Genus Megalops Lacepede 1. M. cyprinoides (Broussonet) Order ANGUILLIFORMES Family ANGUILLIDAE Genus Anguilla Shaw 2. A. bengalens'is bengalensis (Gray & Hardwicke) 3. A. bicolor bicolor McClelland Order CLUPEIFORMES Family CLUPEIDAE Genus Dayella Talwar & Whitehead 4. D. malabarica (Day) JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 21

Genus HUsa Regan 5. H. ilisha (Hamilton) Order OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES Family NOTOPTERIDAE Genus Notopterus Lacepede 6. N. notopterus (Pallas) Order SALMONIFORMES Family CHANIDAE Genus Cbanos Lacepede 7. O. chanos (Forskal) Order Family Subfamily CULTRINAE Genus Chela Hamilton 8. O. (OheZa) cachius (Ham.) 9. O. (Ohela) laubuca (Ham.) Genus Salmostoma Swainson 10. S. acinaces (Val.) 11. S. boopsis (Day) 12. S. clupeoides (Bloch) 13. S. untrahi (Day) Subfamily RASBORINAB Genus Esomus Swainson 14. E. barbatus (Jerdon) 15. E. danricus (Ham.) Genus Danio Hamilton 16. D. (Danio) aequipinnatus McClelland 17. D. (Brachydanio) rerio (Hamilton) Genus Rasbora Bleeker 18. R. daniconius (Ham.) 19. R. caverii (J erdon) Genus Aspidoparia (Heckel) 20. A. morar (Ham.) 22 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oec. PAPER No. 36 Genus Amblypbaryogodon Bleeker 21. A. melettina (Val.) Z2. A. microlepis (Bleeker) Genus Barilius Hamilton 23. B. bendelisis bendelisis Ham. 24. B. canarensis (J erdon) 25. B. gatensis (Val.) 26. B. vagra vagra Ham.

Subfamily CYPRININAE Genus Cyprinus Linnaeus 27. O. carpio carpio Linn. Genus Carassius Nilsson 28. O. carassius (Linn.) Genus Puntius Hamilton 29. p. amphibius (Val.) 30. p. arulius arulius (Jerdon) 31. p. bovanicus (Day) 32. p. earnatieu8 (J erdon) 33. P. cauveriensis (Hora) 34. p. ekola (Ham~) 35. p. conckoniu8 (Ham.) 36. p. coorgensis Jayaram 37. p. eurmuca (Ham.) 38. p. dorsalis (J erdon) 39. p. dubius (Day) 40. p. filamentosu8 (Val.) 41. p. jerdoni (Day) 42. P. lithopido8 (Day) 43. p. melanampyx melanampyx (Day) 44. p. melanostigma (Day) 45. p. micropogon (Val.) 46. p. narayani Hora 47. p. nigrojasciatus (Gunther) 48. p. parrah Day ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 23

49. p. pulehellus (Day) 50. p. sarana sarana (Ham.) 51. p. sarana subnasutu8 (Val.) 52. p. sophore (Ham.) 53. p. thomassi (Day) 54. p. tie to tieto (Ham.) 55. p. vittatus (Day) 56. p. wynaadensis (Day) Genus Robtee Sykes 57. R. ogilbii Sykes Genus Osteobrama Heckel 58. O. eotio eotio (Ham.) 59. O. neilli (Day) Genus Labeo Cuvier 60. L. ariza (Ham.) 61. L. bata (Ham.) 62. L. boga (Ham.) 63. L. boggut (Sykes) 64. L. calbasu (Ham.) 65. L. aus8umieri (Val.) 66. L. fimbriatus (Bloch) 67. L. kontius (J erdon) 68. L. pangusia (Ham.) 69. L. potail (Sykes) 70. L. rohita (Ham.) Genus Tor Gray 71. T. khuaree (Sykes) 72. T. mussullah (Sykes) Genus Cirrhinus (Oken) Cuvier 73. G. eirrhosa (Bloch) 74. G. fulungee (Sykes) 75. G. mrigala (Ham.) 76. O. reba (Ham.) 24 Rsc. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Genus Osteocheilus Gunther 77. O. (OsteochiUchthys) nashii (Day) 78. O. (Osteochilichthys) thomassi Day 79. O. (Kantaka) brevidorsalis (Day) Genus Catla Valenciennes 80. O. catla (Ham.) Genus Ctenopharyngodon Steindachner 81. O. idella (Val.) Subfamily GARRINAE Genus Garra McClelland 82. G. gotyla steno1"hynchu8 (Jerdon) 83. G. mcOlellandi (Jerdon) 84. G. mUllya (Sykes) Family HOMALOPTERIDAE Genus Bhavania Hora 85. B. australis (Jerdon) Genus Balitora Gray 86. B. mysorensis Hora Family COBITIDAE Subfamily NOEMACHEILINAE Genus Oreonectes Giinther 87. O. evezardi (Day) Genus Noemacheilus Van Hasselt 88. N. denis'Onii Day 89. N. guentheri Day 90. N. monilis Hora 91. N. semiarmatus Day 92. N. sinuatus Day 93. N. striatus Day Subfamily COBITINAB Genus Lepidocepbalus Bleeker 94. L. thermalis (Val.) , JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES

Order SILURIFORMES

Family BAGRIDAE Genus Mystus Scopoli 95. M. armatus (Day) 96. M. bleekeri (Day) 97. M. cavasius (Ham.) 98. M. gulio (Ham.) 99. M. malabaricus (J erdon) 100. M. menoda (Ham.) 101. M. montanus (Jerdon) 102. M. punctatu8 (J erdon) 103. M. vittatus (Bloch) Genus Aorichthys Wu 104. A. aor (Ham.) 105. A. seenghala (Sykes)

Family SILlJRIDAE Genus Walla go (Bleeker) 106. W. attu (Bloch & Schneider) Genus Silurus Linn. 107 . S. berdmorei '1.oynaadensis Day

Family SCHILBEIDAE Genus Pseudeutropius Bleeker 108. p. atherinoides (Bloch) Genus Proeutropiicbthys Hora 109. p. taakree (Sykes) Genus Silonia Swainson 110. S. childreni Sykes

Family P ANGASllDAE Genus Pangasius Val. 111. P. pangas£us (Ham.)

Family SISORIDAE Genus Nangra Day 112. Nt viridescens (Ham,) 26 REc. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Genus Glyptothorax Blyth 113. G. lonah (Sykes) 114. G. madraspatanum (Day)

Family CLARlIDAE Genus Clarias Scopoli 115. O. batrachus (Linn.)

Family HETEROPNEUSTIDAE Genus Heteropneustes (Muller) 116. H. jossilis (Bloch)

Order A THERINIFORMES

Family BELONIDAE Genus Xenentodon Regan 117. X. cancila (Ham.)

Family CYPRINODONTIDAE Genus Aplocheilus McClelland 118. A. lineatus (Val.) 119. A. panchax (Ham.) Genus Oryzias Jordan & Snyder 120. O. melanostigma (McCl.)

Family POECILIDAE Genus Gambusia Poey 121. G. affinis patruelis (Baird & Girard)

Order CHANNIFORMES

Family CHANNIDAE Genus Channa Scopoli 122. O. leucopunctatus (Sykes) 123. O. marulius (Ham.) 124. O. orientalis (Schneider) 125. O. punctatus (Bloch) 126. 0, striatu8 (Bloch) jAYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 17

Order PERCIFORMES

Family CHANDIDAB Genus Chanda Hamilton 127. O. nama (Hamilton) 128. O. ranga (Hamilton)

Family CICHLIDAB Genus Etroplus Cuvier 129. E. maculatus (Bloch) 130. E. suraten8is (Bloch) Genus Tilapia A. Smith 131. T. m08sambica Peters

Family MUGILIDAE Genus Liza Jordan & Swain. 132. L. parsia (Ham.) 133. L. tade (Forskal) Genus Rhinomugil Gill 134. R. corsula (Ham.)

Family GOBIIDAE Genus Awaous Val. 135. A. 8tamineus (Val.) Genus Glossogobius Gill 136. G. giuris giuris (Ham.)

Family ANABANTIDAB Genus Anabas Cuvier 137. A. testudineus (Bloch)

Family BELONTIDAE Genus Macropodus Lacepede 138. M. cupanus Val.

Family OSPHRONEMIDAB Genus Osphronemus Lacepede 139. O. goramy Lacepede 28 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36'

Order MASTACEMBELIFORMES

Family MASTACEMBELIDAE Genus Macrognathus Lacepede 140. M. aculeatus (Bloch) Genus Mastacembelus Scopoli 141. M. armatus armatu8 Lacepede 142. M. pancalu8 (Ham.)

SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT

KEY TO THE FAl\IILIES 1. Body elongated, more or less cylindrical, long drawn out. 2 Body not elongated, fusiform, compressed, not eel-like. ... 4

~. Pelvic girdle and pelvic fins absent. l\1:ASTACEl\iBELIDAE (Genus Mastacembelus) Pelvic girdle and pelvic fins present. 3 S. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal ",hen latter is present. Gill openings of moderate extent, situated nearer base of pectoral fins. Scales present, small, imbedded in skin. ANGUILLIDAE (Genus Anguilla) Dorsal and anal fins far from caudal. Gill openings wide, membranes of two sides con­ nected beneath isthmus. Scales moderately large. OHANNIDAE (Genus Cbanna) 4. Skin scaled or rarely without scales. but never with osseous plates. Pectoral fins simple with.. out any spine. ... 5 Skin without scales, either smooth or covered with osseous plates or with scattered tubercles. Pectoral fins with outermost ray modified into osseous spine or thick ray. .a. 21 5. Abdominal edge keeled with double or single serration. ... 6 Abdominal edge smooth, rounded. 7 6. Lateral line present. Abdomen with double serration. NOTOPTERIDAln (Genus Notopterus) Lateral line absent. Abdomen with single serra tion. ... CLUPEIDAE ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES

7. An osseous gular plate at symphysis of lower jaw covering the intermediate area present. ELOPIDAE (Genus Elops) Gular plate absent. 8 8. Gill membranes entirely united below and not atta.ched to isthmus. An accessory branchial organ present. Jaws without teeth. CHANIDAE (Genus ebanos) Gill membranes free. No accessory respiratory organ. Jaws with teeth. 9 9. Pelvic fins inserted in the abdominal region and without spines. Dorsal and anal fins without spines. ~iostly a single dorsal fin •... 10

Pelvic fins inser~ed in the thoraoio region and with spines. Dorsal and anal fins with spines. Dorsal fin mostly in two parts, continuous or separate, one spiny, another with rays. 15 10. Soales on head and body. Teeth present on jaws. 11

No scales on head. No teeth on jaws. •• :1 13 11. Both jaws produced. BELONIDAE (Genus Xenento- don) Jaws not produoed. 12 12. Oaudal pedunole longer than head. POEOILIDAE (Genus Gambusia) Caudal peduncle shorter than head. CYPRINODONTIDAE 18. Paired fins horizon tally inserted. Two or more anterior rays of peotoral fins simple. HOl\{ALOPTERIDAE Paired fins laterally inserted. Not more than one anterior ray of pectoral fins simple or may be all branohed. 14 14:. Two, four or no barbels. CYPRINIDAE ~~x or eight barbels. ••• OOBITIDAE 15. Pelvic fins united with a membrane or frenum across than base, forming a suoking disc. GOBIIDAE Pelvio fins may be close but not united as above, may be apart. 16 16. An accessory respiratory organ in the form of a cavity above the third or upper portion of the :first branohial arch present. 17 No such accessory respiratory organ present .... 19 17. First ray of pelvio fin produced into a long filament. Pelvio:fin inserted behind or post­ erior to peotoral fin. 18 First ray of pelvio :fin not produced into a long filament. Pelvic fin inserted below base of pectoral :fin. ANABANTIDAE (Genus Anabas) 30 REe. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oee. PAPER No. 36

18. Anal fin longer than dorsal fin. ... BELONTIDAE (Genus Macropodus)

Anal fin shorter than or equal to dorsal fin. . .. OSPHRONEMIDAE (Genus Osphronemus)

19. Anal fin with 12-16 spines. CICHLIDAE

Anal fin with three or four spines. gO

20. Spinous and soft portion of dorsal fins well separated. ••• l\fUGILIDAE

Spinous and soft portion of dorsal fins conti- nuous. ... OHANDIDAE 21. Adipose dorsal fin absent. ... 22 Adipose dorsal present as a smooth, short or long, high or low fin.

22. Nasal J:>arbels absent. No accessory respira­ tory organs present. SILURIDAE Nasal barbels present. Accessory respiratory organs present on gills or in the body cavity... · ••• 23 23. Dorsal fin long with 23 to 76 rays. Accessory respiratory organs on gills pres en t. OLARIIDAE

Dorsal fin short, with 6 or 7 rays. Accessory respiratory organs as a tubular air-sac in body cavity. HETEROPNEUSTIDAE (Genus Heteropneuatea) 24. Nostrils close together with very little inter­ space between the two. SISORIDAl1l Nostrils wide apart, separated by some inter­ space. .., 25 25. Anal fin short with less than 20 rays (8-16) .... BAGRIDAE Anal fin long with more than 20 rays (24-90). ... ••• 26 26. Nasal barbels always present (exception Silonia Swainson, with 40-46 anal fin rays and caniniform teeth on jaws). ... SCHILBEIDAE Nasal barbels absent. (Anal fin with 80-34 rays and villiform teeth on jaws). •.. PANGASIIDAE (Genus Pangaalus) JAYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 31

Order ELOPIFORMES

Family ELOPIDAE Genus Megalops Lacepede Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet)

1782. Olu,pea cyprinoides Broussonet, Ichthyologia, pI. 9 (type locality, Oceans between the Tropics (not Jamaica and Antiquo, or Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); Tanna Island, South Pacific. Local na1nes.-Mooran kendai, Tamil; Ounay, Malayalam. M aterial.-6 exs. in total : 9-1 ; 20-5.* Distribution.-Seas of India, , Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Malay Archipelago, Korea, Japan, Queensland, New South­ wales, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Hawaii, Red Sea, Zanzibar, Natal, Mauritius. Oftern captured in rivers and common in tanks. Remarks.-This fish is the Oriental correspondent of the celebrated tarpon of the western Atlantic and has a very wide distribution in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Though primarily· marine it enters freshwater regularly. The adaptability of this species to strictly freshwater habitat is /well known. It can be reared in freshwater ponds from young caught in the coast. Maximum known size 3 feet or 914 mm. The main diagnostic feature of the species is the presence of a gular plate on the ventral side between the mandibles.

Order ANGUILLIFORMES Family ANGUILLIDAE Genus Anguilla Shaw

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Dorsal fin inserted midway between gill opening and origin of anal fin. Adult coloura­ tion variegated. A. bengalensis bengalensis Dorsal fin inserted above or slightly anterior or posterior t~ vent. Plain coloura tion. A. bicolor bicolor

* Throughout this paper the first number under material cited following the total number of examples indicates the Station number followed by the number of examples collected at that locality. 32 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis (Gray & Hardwicke) 1833-34. Muraena bengalensis Gray & Hardwicke, III, Indian Zool. Hardwioke,2, pl. 95, fig. 5 (type locality, the Ganga). Local names.-Vilangu, Tamil. MateriaZ.-2 exs. in total: 39-1 ; 52-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Malay Archipelago, China, Formosa besides the Islands of Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Remarks.-Maximum size 1219 mm.

Anguilla bicolor bicolor McClelland

1845. Anguila bioolor l\!cClelland, Oalcutta J. nat. Hist., 5, p. 178, pI. vi, fig. 1 (type locality, Sandoway, Burma). Local name.-Nil. Material.-1 ex. in total: 44-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Bangladesh, Burma and the Malay Archipelago. Remarks.-Maximum size 700 mm.

Order CLUPEIFORMES

Family CLUPEIDAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Upper jaw with a distinct notch in the middle. Hilsa Upper jaw without a notch in the middle. Dayella

Genus Dayella Talwar & Whitehead Dayella malabarica (Day)

1873. Spratelloiaes malabaricus Day, Proc. lool. Sao. Land., p. 240 (type locality J l\!alabar). 1971. DayeUa malabarica, Tg,lwar & Whitehead, Bull. British Mus" (N. H.), 22 (2), p.63. Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Chacko et ale (1954). Distribution.-Westerp coa:st of rndia in rivers and es~ariest ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 33

Genus Hilsa Regan HUsa ilisha (Hamilton)

1822. Olupanodon ilisha Hamilton, Fish. , pp. 243, 382, pl. 19, fig. 73 (type

locali ty J Ganges estuaries). Local name.-Sevva, Ullam, Tamil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded .by Hora(1942). Distribution.-Persian Gulf, Coast of Sind, India and Burma, Malay Archipelago.

Fig. 1. Lateral view of Hilsa ilisha (Hamilton).

Remarks.-In the Cauvery, previous to the construction of the lower Coleroon Anaicut in 1836, Hilsa was caught in the neighbourhood of Tiruchirappally about 160 km from the sea but now it is confined to the lower reaches of about 60 km only, wh~re from also -it has become scarce.

Order OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES

Fanlily NOTOPTERIDAE Genus Notopterus Lacepede N otopterus notopterus (Pallas)

1769. Gymnotus noiopterus Pallas, Spicilegia zoologica, part 7, pl. 6, fig. 2 (type locality, Indian Ocean). Local names.-Ambattan vazhai, Ohinna vazhai, Ghotta vazhai, Tamil. Material.-50 exs. in total; 10-3; 44-8; 52-2; 53-1; 56-1 ; 59-3 ; 60-1 ; 62-3 ; 63-12 ; 64-2 ; 68-5 ; 71-1 ; 76-1 ; 78-4 ; 84-1 ; 85-1 ; 86-1. Distribution.-Throught India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand to Malay ArchiJ?elago and Indonesia:. Occurs in fresh and brackishwaters. q 34 REe. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36 Remarks.-Generally adult fish are uniformly cement grey or bronze or copper coloured. Juveniles may have some cross bands. The smallest example in our collection (118 rom. in total length) does Dot

Fig. 2. Lateral view of Notopter'lls notopterus (Pallas). however show any colour bands. Smaller examples are brighter, more silvery than larger specimens. Maximum known size 2 feet (609 mm) or more. The largest in our collection is 361 mm long from Bhavanisagar dam collected on 7. 4. 1973.

Order SALMONIFORMES

Family CHANIDAE Genus Cbanos Lacepede Cbanos ebanos (Forskal)

1775. MugU chanos Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 74, No. 110 (type locality, Djedda, Red Sea). Local names.-Tulu kenaai, Tamil; Palah bontah, Telugu; Hu-meen, Kanarese ; Pu-rrteen, Tulu.

Fig. 3. Lateral view of Ohanos chanos (Forakal). ]AYARAM : CAUVBRY FISHES 35 Material.-No specimen obtained •oy us. Recorded by Chacko et al. (1954). Distribution.-Indian and Pacific Oceans. Acclamatised in S. Kanara tanks.

Order CYPRINIFORMES

Family CYPRINIDAE

KEY TO SUBFAl\iILIES.

1. Abdomen or part of abdomen compressed into a sba.rp keel like edge. No barbels. CULTRINAln Abdonlen rounded or flat, not compressed. Barbels one or two pairs present or absent. 2

2. Upper lip continuous with skin of snout. l\fouth conspicuously inferior.. Lower lip with a sucker. GARRINAE Upper lip separate from skin of rostrum by a deep groove. l\iouth anterior, subinferior or inferior. Lower lip without an adhesive disk. s 3. A knob at symphysis or junction of two arms of lower jaw (exception A8pidoparia) fitting into an emargination or incision of upper jaw. Dorsal fin with 6-16 branched rays without any osseous simple ray. Lateral line when complete with an abrupt down ward curvature anteriorly running in lower half of caudal peduncle. RASBORINAE No knob at symphysis or junction of two arms of lower jaw. Dorsal fin with 7-30 branched rays with or without an osseous simple ray. Lateral line complete or incomplete running along middle of caudal peduncle. OYPRININAE

Subfamily CULTRINAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. A knob at the symphysis of lower jaw absent. Chela

A knob at the symphysis of lower jaw present. ••• Saimostoma 36 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Occ. PAPER No. 36

Genus Chela Hamilton

KEY TO SPEOIES

1. Lateral1ine scales 51-68. Scales small, much more numerous on body. Body depth 4.0 to 4.25 in total length. O. cachius Lateral line scales 34-37. Scales large, not many on body. Body depth 3.5 to 4.5 in total length. O. laubuca

Chela (C~ela) cachius Hamilton

1822. 01lprinus (Ohela) cachius Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 258. 384 (type local~ty, River Ganges, about the commencement of the delta). 1822. Oyprinus (Ohela) atpar Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 259, 384 (type locality, branches of the Ganges, the Jamuna and Brahmaputra rivers). 1958. Ohela (Ohela) cachius, Silas, J. Bombay nat. Hist. 80c •• 55 (1), p. 66 (revision). Local names.-Kachi, Hindi. Material.-13 exs. in total: 14-3 ; 16-2 ; 46-5 ; 55-1 ; 58-1 ; 73-1. Distribution.-India, Nepal> Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma. Remarlcs.-Rajan (1955) reported it from the head waters of Bhavani river.

Chela laubuca (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus laubuca Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 260, 384 (type locality, ponds in northern parts of Bengal). Local names.-Nil.

Fig. 4. Lateral view of Ohela laubuca (Hamilton).

Material.-No material obtained by us. Recorded by Rajan (1955). Distribution.-Orissa, Ganjam, W. Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Burma. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 31

Genus Salmostoma Swainson

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Lateral line scales above 70 (74-112) s. clupeoides Lateral line sca.les below 70 (39-64) 2 2. Dorsal fin inserted in advance of anal fin. Anal fin with 12-14 branched rays. S. boopsis Dorsal fin inserted above anal fin. Anal fin with 14 or 15 branched rays. S S. Lateral line with 42-46 scales. Symphysial knob on lower jaw rUdimentary. Lateral line sligbly curved. S. acinaces Lateralline with 59-63 scales. Symphysial· knob on lower jaw rudimentary. Lateral line curved sharply. S. untrahi

Salmostoma acinaces (Valenciennes)

1842. Leuciscus acinacss Valenciennes, Rist. Nat. Poiss., 17, p. 347, pl. 509 (type locality, !\fysore). 1867. Ohela argentea Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 301 (type locality, Bhavani river). Local names.-Ohaya vallaches, Vellachae kenaai, Tamil; White carp, English. Material.-228 exs: in total: 47-5 ; 57-2 ; 63-2 ; 64-32 ; 67-17 ; 68-21 ; 69-32 ; 75-1 ; 77-22 ; 79-90 ; 95-4. Distribution.-Bhavani river at base of Cauvery river in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Remarks.-The anal fin is generally reported to be tinged with black but in all the specimens from R. Cauvery at Ramanathapura, the fin was plain. A black streak along lateral line is prominent. The anal fin in most examples has 16 branched rays ; the lateral line scales vary from 44-46.

Salmostoma boopsis (Day) 1873. Ohela boopsis Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 708 (type-locality, ). LocaZ names.-Nil. Material.-1 ex. in total: 89-1.

Distribution.-India : W. ghats, S. Kanara ; Mutha Mula river, Pune1 . Day (1889) doubtfully recorded this species from Mysore, which is now cleared by specimens from the upper reaches of the Cauvery. 38 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Salmostoma clupeoides (Bloch)

1795. Oyprinus clupeoides Bloch, Naturg. Ausland, Fische, 12, p. 49. pl. 408, fig. (type locality, Tranquebar). Local names.-Netteli, Tamil. Material.-139 exs. in total: 5-13 ; 6-2; 8-18; 14-5; 16-2: 35-1 ; 44-2; 45-1; 48-1; 50-1; 57-1 ; 58-4 ;. 64-26 ; 68-1 ; 73-1 ; 79-55 ; 81-1'; 85-2 ; 86-2. Distribution.-India : Narbada, Tapi, Krishna, Godavary and Cauvery river systems. Recorded from Nasik, Deolali, Jabalpur. Day (1878) includes Burma also within its range. Recorded from Nelliampathi hill draniage by Silas (1951). Remark8.-This seems to be the most common of the "Chilwas" in the Cauvery system.

Salmostoma untrahi (Day)

1869. Ohela untrahi Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 381 (type locality, l\1a,l1anadi). Local names.-Untrahi, Oriya. Material.-84 exs. in total : 5-13; 17-9; 18-2; 20-2; 25-3 ; 33-1 ; 35-9; 36-1 ; 39-1; 40-1 ; 44-8 ; 45-2; 46-1; 52-2; 56·1; 57-1; 63-3 ; 64-24. Distribution.-India: Mahanadi river drainage, Orissa. Cauvery river system, S. India.

Subfamily RASBORINAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Lower lip absent. Lower jaw with a sharp crescen tic edge. Aspldoparia Lower lip present. Lower jaw with or without a symphysial knob. .... ••• 2 2. 1\iaxillary barbels very long. No symphysial knob oD.lower jaw. Esomus l\iaxillary barbels short or absent. A symphy· sial knob present on lower jaw. 3 3. Cleft of mouth often extending beyond anterior margin of eye. Body with vertical bands or blotches. ... Baril Ius Cleft of lnouth not extending beyond anterior margin of eye. Body plain or with horizontal stripes. .., JAYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 39

4. Upper lip absent. Amblypharyngodon Upper lip present. 5

5. Anal fin with 13-20 rays. Dorsal fin inserted opposite interspace between anal and pel vic fins. Danio Anal :fin with seven or eight rays. Dorsal:fin inserted behind origin of pelvic fin. Rasbora

Genus Esomus Swains on

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Lateral line complete or nearly so extending to atleast the base of anal fin. E. barbatus Lateral line absent or nearly so, piercing only four to seven scales anteriorly. E. danricus

Esomus barbatus (Jerdon)

1849. Leuciscus ba'rbatus Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. Sci., 15, p. 322 (type locality, rivers and tanks all over l\:Iysore and Carnatic). Local names.-Messaiparavai, Tamil. MateriaZ.-513 exs. in total: 5-7 ; 8-15 ; 11-1 ; 14-1; 19-3; 21-29; 24-2 ; 26-3 ; 46-450 ; 47-1 ; 57-1. Distribution.-Confined to South India, recorded so far from Nellore dist., Andhra Pradesh, Chingleput dist., and Mysore. Recorded for the first time from the Cauvery river system in Tamil Nadu also. Remarks.-Rajan (1955) recorded this species from the head waters of Bhavani river. Silas (1957) considered the Sri Lanka species E. tkermoicos (Valenciennes) as a subspecies of E. barbatus. Hora & Mukerji (1928) differentiated E. barbatu8 from E. tkermoicos by coloration and possession of 17 predorsal scales. Silas (op. cit.) found the predor­ sal scales to vary from 17 to 19 which is borne out by our material also. Hora and Mukerji (1928) also gave a key to distinguish the five species of this genus known then. Besides E. danricus, E. barbatus (Jerdon) was also reported, as occurring in South India by the authors. They listed specimens of barbatus from Chingleput district, Madras, but not from the Cauvery drainage. E. barbatus differs from E. danricus by the lateral line extending up to anal fin, besides 30-32 scales on the lateral line in the former (versus lateral line incomplete, extending only up 'to 6 'or 7 scales anteriorly and 27-30 scales along lateral line in E. danricus). 40 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCc. PAPER No. 36 The frequency distribution of lateral line scales and predorsal scales shown by 79 examples is as below :-

Lateral line scales Pre dorsal scales

30 31 82 33 34 16 17 18 19

3 8 38 29 1 11 35 32 1

Esomos danricos (Hamilton)

1822. OYP'rinus danrica, O. jogia, O. sutiha, Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 3'l5-827, 390- 391, pI. xvi, fig. 88 (type-locality, ponds and ditches of Bengal). Local names.-Messiparavai, Tamil. Material.-1 ex in total: 75-1. Distribution.-Generally confined to North India extending up to system in South. Hora & Mukerji (1928) reported this species as occurring in S. India also, from Nellore distict, and Kolleru Lake.

Fig. 5. Lateral view of Esomus dan?Oicu8 (Hamilton). Remarks.-The single example is the first record from the Cauvery river system.

Genus Danio Hamilton

KEY TO SUBGENERA AND SPECIES

1. Dorsal fin with 12-16 branched rays. ~everal lateral stripes coaelessing in the caudal region. Danio (Danio) aequipinnatus Dorsal fin with 7 branched rays. Five or six clearly'defined lateral stripes prQsent all over body. Danio (Brachydanio) rerio

Danio (Daoio) aequipinoatus (McClelland)

1839. Perilampus aequipinnatu8 l\icClelland, Asiatic Researches, 19, p. 393 (type locali ty, Assam). J.;oool names.-Selai paravu, Vanna,thi Podi, Tamil '. . . ., ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 41

Material.-373 exs. in total: 5-17 ; 8-4 ; 11-6 ; 12-10 ; 14-48 ; 16-8 ; 17-5 ; 18-10 ; 21-2: 22-2; 24-2 ; 25-10 ; 31-3 ; 35-1 ; 39-2 ; 40-5 ; 46-21 ; 47-42 ; 49-3; 54-7; 55-7; 57-44; 63-4; 64-3 ; 65-6 ; 66-4 ; 67-2 ; 71-6 ; 73-3 ; 77-11 ; 78-13 ; 79-55 ; 84-6 ; 89-1.

Fig. 6. Lateral view of Danio aequipinnatus l\icClelland.

Maximum size 152 mm. Di8tribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand. Remarks. ,-A few exanlples from Mayanur channel at Kulithalai,. were juveniles ranging 30 to 55 mm in standard length. The frequency distribution of dorsal and anal fin rays (total count) and of lateral line scales is as below.-

SL in Dorsal fin rays A nal.fin rays LL Number of Scales rom 12 13 14 15 16 17 32 33 34 35 36 30-85 8 8 2 3 3 86-40 7 3 9 1 7 3 1 41-45 5 8 1 7 1 2 3 2 46-50 3 2 4 1 1 - 2 1 51-55 5 3 1 6 3 4 4 1

Hora and Mukerji (1934) gave an artificial key to the species of Danio and distinguished D. strigilifer Myers, and D. malabricus Jerdon from D. aequipinnatus. The first s~ecies though known only from Burma was recorded by Hora (1937) from S. India also. D. malabaricus of course as implied by the name is known only from Kerala. D. strigilifer is reported to have 37 scales on its lateral line, P. malabaricus 32-34 unlike D. aequipinnat1tS with 34-36 scales. Hora and Law (1944) later found after examination of a large number of young, half grown and adult specimens of D. aequipinnatus that the two species are synon- ymous, The frequency distribution data of some young examples 6 42 REe. ZQOL. SURV. INOlA, OCc. PAPER No. 36

given above would seem to support this contention although the possibility of existence of geographical subspecies cannot be ruled out. Nine examples from Stn. 78, River Cauvery at Srirangapatnam (13-5-77) measure 55-61 mm in standard length. Of these, five exmples (56-59 mm SL) have four barbels well developed, whereas four examples (55·61 mm SL) have no maxillary barbels. These have only 15 or 16 anal fin rays instead of 16 or 17. Two examples 58 and 59 mm in standard length from R. Kabbini at Nanjangud (Stn. 79) have 12 and 13 dorsal fin rays, 16, 14 anal fin rays and 36 lateral-line scales. Both have two barbels only. The bands along the sides are not prominent. The caudal band coalesces to form a faint bluish band along the middle.

Danio (Brachydanio) rerio (Hamilton)

1822. Cyprinus rerio Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 323, 390 (type locality, R. Kosi).­ Local names.-Nil. MateriaZ.-203 exs. in total: 65-173 (18-32 mm TL) ; 66-30. Distribution.-India: Eastern India from W. Bengal through Orissa to Andhra Pradesh. Also known from Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Remarks.-Al1 the specimens were bright steel grey or blue striped in life. The lateral line extends up to anal fin and in some beyond, and has 28-30 scales. This species has not so far been reported from the Cauvery system and this is the first record.

Genus Rasbora Bleeker

KEY TO SPEOIES

1. Post dorsal distance (distance from base of first dorsal ray to end of hypura,l plate) when carried forward falls behind posterior border of eye. R. caverti Post-dorsal distance when carried forward falls before posterior border of eye. R. aamconius

Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton)

1822. Cyprinus daniconius Hamilton, Fish Ganges, p. 327, pI. 15, fig. 89 (type locality, rivers of southern Bengal). Local names.-Patta lcunju, Tamil. jAYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 43

Mate1'ial.-145 exs. in total: 5-13 ; 6-1 ; 7-1 ; 8-24 ; 11-1 ; 14-1 ; 18-1 ; 19-80; 46-1; 47-1; 54-1; 66-7; 65-2 ; 68-1 ; 70-2 ; 77-3 ; 78-1 ; 81-3; 88-1.

Fig. 7. Lateral view of Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton).

Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaya. Remarks.-A ,specimen 114 mm in total length from Stn. 88. Nursery tanks of State fishery department at Maddur collected in Oct" 1975 was a female ripe with eggs.

Rasbora caverii (Jerdon)

1848. Leuciseus eaverii Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. & Sci., 15, p. 820 (type locality, Cauvery river, Coorg State).

1937. Rasbora cave'l'ii, Hora, Ree. indian Mus., 39, pp. 26-28, fig. 11 (description). Local names.-Nil. Material.-3 exs. in total: 73-2 ; 81-1 (topotypes). Distribution.-Cauvery river, Coorg ; also Hemavathy and Kabbini rivers.

Genus Aspidoparia Heckel Aspidoparia morar (Ham.)

1821. Oyprinus morar Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 264, 384, pI. 31, fig. 75 (type loc~lity, rivers and Teesta.). Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-According to Day (1889) "Sind, Punjab, continent of India (except the Western coast, and localities south of the Krishna river) also Assam and Burma". 44 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36 Remarks.-This is mainly a North Indian species, but has been included here on the strength of Hora (1937). Perhaps it may occur in the head waters and head reaches of Cauvery and its affiuents.

Fig. 8. Lateral view of Aspidoparia tnorar (Hamilton).

Genus Amblypbaryngodon Bleeker

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Head length 4.75-5.0 in total length. A broad silvery band present. .A. microlepis Head length 5.5-6.0. No such lateral band. Greenish along back becoming silvery on sides beneath. A bright greenish yellow band divides the colour of the back. A. '1neZettina

Amblypharyngodon melettina (Valenciennes)

1842. Leuciscus '1nelettina, Valenciennes, Hist. nat. Poiss, 17, p. 304, pI. 501 (typ~ locality, Bombay). Local names.-Pachai Talai Kendai, Oolares, Tamil. M aterial.-1 ex. in total : 83-1. Distribution.-lndia : \V. ghats, Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka. Renarks.-In life golden streaked along sides, greenish above.

Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Bleeker)

1853. Leuciscus microlepis Bleeker, Verh. Batav. Genootsch, 25, p. 41 (type locality, R. Hooghly). Local names.-Oori, Tamil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (19.37). Distribution.-"From the Hooghly through Orissa and down the Coromandal coast to Madras" (Day, 1889). ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 45

Genus Barilius Hamilton

KEY TO SPECIES 1. Barbels present. 2 Barbels absent. 3 2. Anal fin with 9-11 rays. No vertical bar, each scale with a black spot. B. bendelisis Anal fin with 13-17 rays. 10 vertical bars. B. vagra vagra S. Body without vertical bars. B. canarensis Body with 13-15 vertical bars. B. gatensis

Barilius bendelisis bendelisis (Hamilton)

1807. Oyprinus bendelisis Hamilton, Journey Mysore, 3, p. 845, pI. 32 (type locality, ri vers of ~fysore). Looal names.-Vannathi kendai, A kkkilli, Tamil. Material.-58 ex. in total: 14-3; 21-1; 25-1; 35 .. 31 ; 37-1 ; 39-1 ; 40-5; 42-1 ; 45-1 ; 46-5; 55-1'; 56-3; 63-2; 64-2. Distribution.-Throughout India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangla­ desh. Maximum size 152 mm.

Fig. 9. Lateral view of Barilius bendelisis bendelisis (Hamilton).

Remarks.-Day (1889) stated that this species has not been recorded from the , Kanara or Sind. Rajan (1955) recorded this species from the Bhavani river head waters. Our collections from the the Cauvery system indicate its wide prevalence.

Barilius canarensis (Jerdon)

1849. Opsariu,s canarensis Jerdon. Madras, J. Lit. Sci., 15 p. 829 (type locality, Kanara). Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen seen by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-Kanara and Kerala. 46 !tEC. ZOOL. SURV. iNDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

BariIius gatensis (Valenciennes)

1842. Leuciscus gatensis Valenciennes" Rist. Nat. Poiss." 17, p. 309" pI. 503 (type locality, Peninsula of India). Local names.-Ooores, Art candee, Tamil; River Carp, English. MateriaZ.-80 ex., in total: 35-4; 65-18; 66-8; 67-25; 69-1 ; 73-4 ; 78-1 ; 81 .. 12 ; 84-6 ; 85-1. Distribution.-INDIA: W. ghats in Southern Karnataka, Kerala. Recorded from Bhavani river headwaters by Rajan (1955). Remarks.-12 examples collected from River Cauvery at Sriranga­ patnam (13.5.77) measure 89-117 mm in total length. Adult examples have a number of papillae on jaws and are with 13 or 14 bars.

Barilius vagra vagra (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus vagra Hamilton, Fisk Ganges, pp. 269, 385 (type-l~cality, Ganga river at Patna). Local names.-NU. M aterial.-19 ex., in total : 66-17 ; 77 -2. Distribution.-INDIA; Indus, Ganga, Yamuna and the systems. Nepal. Bangladesh. Pakistan. Sri Lanka. Remarhs.-Seven examples from River Kannige at Bhagamandala (4. 5. 77) show the following data :-

TL in mm Number of bars on body Anal fin rays

24 NIL 15 30 12 15 50 10 16 57 10 15 61 13 14 75 12 16 89 13 16

Hora (1942) included this species in his list of fishes from Mysore state and neighbouring hill ranges· and gave the distribution as India as far as Krishna river. He doubted its occurrence in Sri Lanka. This is the first record of this species from below Krishna river system. ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 47

Subfamily CYPRININAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Anal fin with anterior rays osseous, third spine serrated. 2

Anal fin with anterior rays not osseous. 3 2. Two pairs of barbels present. Upper jaw more or less projecting but not protractile. Cyprinus Barbels absent. Jaw more or less projecting and protractile. CarassiU8

S. A short smooth anteriorly directed precumbent predorsal spine pres en t. Rohtee

No precumbent predorsal spine. 4 4. Dorsal fin inserted posterior to pelvic fin in interspace between pel vic and anal fins. Osteobrama

Dorsal fin inserted above pel vic fin or slightly anterior to it. 5 5. A knob or a horny tubercle present at the symphysis of lower jaw. CfrrhiDus

No such symphysial knob. 6

6. Upper lip absent. Scales large (40 .. 43 along latemlline). Catla

Upper lip present. 7

7. Lower lip with an uninterrupted. posterior groove continuous around corner of mouth. . .. 8

Lower lip with posterior groove interrupted in middle when a groove is present or without an y groove. 9

8. Barbels present. Dorsal fin with a spine. Tor

Barbels absent. Dorsal fin without a spine. Ctenopharyngodon

9. A horny covering on the inner side of the lips. Lips distinct. labeo

No such horny covering on the lips. 10

10. Lower jaw not covered by lips. Attachment of lower lip to lower jaw at some distance from mouth. Osteocheilus

Lower jaw covered by lip. Lower lip attached to lower jaw along entire mouth. Puntlus 48 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

Genus Cyprinus Linnaeus Cyprinus carpio carpio Linnaeus

1758. Oyprinus ca'rpio Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., Ed. 10, 1, p. 525 (type loca.lity~ Europe). Local names.-!(annadi lcendai, Tamil: Doodapni, Kanarese. MateriaZ.-3 examples in total: 77-2 ; 79-1. Distribution.-Introduced into our waters from China. Naturally found all through China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan. Remarks.-This species, the common Carp of Asia, has been success­ fully transplanted. It is easily recognised by its terminal mouth, 4 barbels, molar-like pharyngeal teeth in 3 series (3, 1, 1), long dorsal fin with 17-22 branched rays with its last simple ray strongly ossified and serrated. Genus Carassius Nilsson Carassius carassius Nilsson

1832. Oarassius carassius Nilsson, Prodron. Ichth. Scandinoy., 4, p. 290. Local names.-Ponn kendai, Tamil. MciteriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Introduced as an aquarium pet. Naturally found all over China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Europe. Also found in Siberia, East Asia south to North Viet Nam (wild form). Remarks.-This species when it gets into the natural ecosystem, reverts ultimately to a dark olivaceous colour at which time it resembles Oyprinu8 carpio. However, it can be essily differentiated from the common carp by the absence of barbels and pharyngeal teeth being in a single series of 4. Genus Puntius Hamilton

KEY TO THE SPECIES

1. Barbels absent. 2 Barbels present. 8 2. Dorsal spine serrated, strong. 3 Dorsal spine smooth, weak. 5 S. A black band p)'ssing from eye to eye. Body with three vertical bands. Lateral line complete. P. nigrofasciatus Body without any vertical bands. Lateral line incomplete. .,. ,.. ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 49

4. Body depth 2.4 in total length. Predorsal scales 9. Lateral line incomplete, mostly extending up to 18 scales. P. conchonius Body depth 3.0-8.5 in total length. Predorsal scales 8-11. Lateral line incomplete mostly extending up to 6-16 scales. P. ticto ticto

5. Lateral line incomplete. ... 6 Lateral line complete. 7 6. A blotch on dorsal fin rays an d on tail. P. vittatu8 A blotch only on tail. P. coorgensis 7. A round black blotch more or less distinct at root of caudal fin present. P. sophora Three vertical blotches on sides of body present. P. narayani 8. Only one pair of barbels. 9 Two pairs of barbels. ... 16 9. Dorsal spIne strong and osseous. 10 Dorsal spine weak and articulated. 13 10. Scales between middle of back and lateral line 5 or 5!. 11 Scales between middle of back and lateral line St to 4!. ... 12 11. Predorsal scales 10-12. A dark blotch from the 2Srd to 25th scales of the lateral line. A dark spot along base of anterior dorsal ray, and occasionally a dark mar~. behind gill opening. P. chola Predorsal scales 8. A diffused black spot on lateral line from 20th to 22nd scale. P. parrah 19. Dorsal fin inserted ahead of pelvic fin. Scales between lateral line and pel vic fin base 2 or 2l. Anal fin with iii simple rays. P. dorsalis Dorsal fin inserted opposite pel vic fin. Scales between lateral line and pelvic fin bass 31. Anal fin with ii simple rays. P. cauveriensis IS. Lateral line with 26-28 scales. 3-S! scales between pel vic fin base and lateral line. P. melanostigma La.teralline with 21-24 scales. 2 or 2! scales between pelvic fin base and lateral line. 1~ 14. A deep black oval mark on lateral line above anal fin pres en t. P. fllamentosus No such deep black oval spot above anal fin. A dark band along side or hodzontally may be present. ,.., 15 'I 50 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

15. Body depth 4.5-5 times in total length. 2 rows of scales between lateral line and base of pelvic fin. Body depth 3.75-4 time:; in total lengbh. Only two blotches, oval in shape, one below dorsal fin and another above anal fin. P. arulius aruZi148

16. Dorsal spine osseous, strongly serrated. 17 Dorsal spine osseous" smooth and/or weak. 18

17. La teralline scales 30-34. Oolour uniform. P. sarana saran~ Lateral line scales 29-31. A black lateral blotch, fins orange. P. saratta subnasutus

18. Dorsal spine strong and smooth. 19 Dorsal spine weak and articulated. 28

19. Lateral line w~th 24-26 scales. 2~ scales between pel vic fin base and lateral line. P. bovanicus Lateral line with more than 29 sca.les. 20

20. 8 to 3! scales between pel vic fin base and lateral line.. 21 5 scales between pel vic :fin base and 181 teral line. P. dubius

21. Lateral line scales 26-28. P. wynaadensis Lateral line sCiales 29 or more. 22

22. Lateral line scales 29-32. P. carnaticus Latemlline scales 89-41. \ P. micro;pogon 23. A thin cartilaginous covering on inside of either jaw. P. litho1Jidos No such covering. 24

24. Lateral line scales 41. P. curmuca, Lateral line scales less than 35. 25 25. Lateral line scales 20-28. 26 Lateral line scales 30-35. 27

26. Lateral line scales 20. P. melanamp1J~ melanampY:JJ Lateral line scales 27-28. ... P. jerdoni 27. Dorsal fin shorter than body depth. 31 scales between lateral line and pelvic fui base. P. pulcheZZus Dorsal fin equal to body depth. 2! scales between latera,lline and :f?61vio fin base. ••• P. thomasst jAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 51

Puntius amphibius (Valenciennes)

184:2. Oapoeta a1nphibia Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 16: p. 282, pl. 478 (type locality, Bombay). Local name.-Oolse perlee, Malaylam. Material,-385 exs. in total: 5·16 ; 8-41; 11-3; 12-3 ; 14-1; 17-5; 20-1 ; 21-4 ; 25-3 ; 26-9 ; 31-1 ; 35-1 ; 40-1 ;·44-2 ; 45-1; 46-242; 47-14; 48-2 ; 54-1 ; 55-4 ; 57-1 ; 58-1 ; 62·3 ; 66-5 ; 79-6 ; 85-2 ; 87-12. Distribution.-Freshwaters of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, South India and Sri Lanka. Remarks.-Hora and Law (1941) stated that this species is liable to be confused with p. dorsalis. The presence of promi!lent caudal spot and the absence of dorsal and anal spots in amphibiu8 distinguish the two species. p. amphibius is more widely distributed than dorsalis which appear to be restricted in distribution.

Puntius arulus arulius (Jerdon)

1849. 811stomus arulius Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. ct 8Ct., 15, p. 817 (type locality, R. Ca.uvery a.t Srirangapatnam). LocaZ name.-Aruli, Kanarese. Material.-No material collected by us. Recorded by Hora & Law in their (1941) list of fishes from , Kerala. Distrbution.-Cauvery river at Srirangapatnam, Bhavani river, Wynaad, Nilgiris, Tenmalai, Kalatupuzha, Kerala (Day, 1889).

Puntius bovanicus Day

1878. Barbus bovanicus Day, Fish India, p. 566, pI. 138, fig. 1 (type locality, Bha.vani river at base of Nilgiri hills). Local names.-Nil. Material.-48 exs. in total: 13-2; 14-2; 44-3; 45-1 ; 46·9; 47-2 ; 49-6 ; 54-1 ; 56-5 ; 57-16 ; 58-1. Distrib'Uiion.-Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri hills, Cauvery river. Remarks.-This species has not been previously recorded, either by Hora (1937, 1942) or Rajan (1955). Originally described by Day from Bhavani river where from we have 6 topotypes, this species is seen to have a wider range being found in the upper reaches of the 52 REc. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Occ. PAPBR No. 36 Cauvery system at Bhagamandala and down to the plains stretch at Mudikondan river near Kumbakonam. The shape of dorsal profile up to dorsal fin base is noteworthy. Some data taken on the material are as below :

STN 57 IS 46 58 44 45 Total length/Head length 4.65 4.80 4.91 0.07 4.96 5.16 5.5 5.21 Total length/Body depth 4.39 4.59 4.95 4.84 4.72 4.18 4.36 4.12 Standard length/Head length 3.36 S.63 3.59 3.79 8.69 8.80 4.00 3.82 Standard length/Body depth 8.16 3.46 3.62 3.62 3.51 3.08 3.17 3.02 Head length/Eye diameter 3.54 3.73 3.53 3.68 4.04: 4.38 4.40 4.50 Head length/Snout 3.11 3.11 2.94 2.82 2.67 2.94: 2.80 2.74 Head length/Int. orb. width 8.19 3.59 3.88 3.31 3.37 2.91 2.53 2.66 Head length/LCPD 2.02 1.75 1.88 1.84 1.66 1.58 1.58 2.30 Head length/HCPD 2.09 2.00 2.16 2.12 2.10 1.91 1.91 1.99 LCPD/HCPD 1.04 1.14 1.14 1.15 1.26 1.21 1.21 0.85 Snout/Eye 1.14 1.20 1.20 1.31 1.51 1.49 1.57 1.64 lOW/Eye 1.11 1.04 0.91 1.11 1.20 1.51 1.74 1.69 Dorsal fin rays iii, 8 iii, 8 iv, 8 iv, 10 iv, 9 iV,9 iv, 9 iv, 9 Anal fin rays iii, 5 iii, 5 iii, 5 iii, 5 iii, 5 iii, 5 iii, 5 iii, 5 Lateral line scales 24 25 25 25 23 26 26 26 Predorsal scales 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 Oircumpeduncwar Scales 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 Scales between Lat. line and pelvic fin base 31 31 31 3t 31 3t 31 31

Pontius carnaticus (Jerdon)

1849. Barbus carnaticus Jerdon" Madras J. Lit. It SCt., 15, p. 311 (type locality, Bhavani river). Local name.-Pouree, Ball kendai, Sikellee, Pellikenilai Tamil; Gendai, Kanarese. Material.-35 exs. in total: 35-4; 59-1; 64-1; 68-4 ; 71-2 ; 79-8 ; 80-2 ; 81-8 ; 83-1 ; 85 .. 3 ; 89-1. 3 Distribution.-Kanara, ,Bhavani river (Day, 1889; Mukerji, 1931), South Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu along the base of hills. Intro­ duced into and other lakes and reservoirs. Remarks.-This species provides a fishery of minor importance in the Mettur reservoir area. Fry of this species is reported to,be avaihible during September to December. Its growth in lentic waters is very good (Chacko et al; 1954). The dorsal spine is shorter than head length, which Day (1878) opined as representing immature specimens. Four examples (223-235 mm in total length) from Stn. 68 River Cauvery at Kudige (5. 5. 77), are noteworthy; of thess two were females jAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 53 with distended abdomen, containing eggs· of II/III stage of maturity. The female specimens were light brown in colour, with a deeper body and without any pores on the snout. The male examples were coloured light grey and with the body less deep and having pores on the snout. Some measurements obtained on p. carnaticu8 from R. Kabbini, Nanjangud are as below:

SL BD LH LL 85.0 29.0 23.0 27 85.5 33.0 22.0 26 86.0 32.0 21.0 26 86.0 32.0 ,23.0 30 87.0 33.0 23.0 31 87.0 30.0 23.5 27 110.0 41.0 26.5 29 119.0 35.0 26.0 29

Puntius cauveriensis Hora

1937. Barbus cauveriensis Rora, Ree. Indian Mus., 39 (1), pp. 20-22 (type locality, Cauvery river, Coorg). Local name.-Nil.

Material.-5 exs. in total (all topotypes) ; 54-1 ; 66-3 ; 74-1. "" Distribntion.-Cauvery river, Karnataka. Remarlcs.-The present report of five examples are the first record subsequent to Hora (1937). Hora (1937, p.21) considered this species as remarkable and stated that he was "not aware of any other species of the genus Barbus in any way closely allied to this species, unless any of Jerdon's species} which are very little known may prove to he this species" p. cauver1:ensis is most closely allied to p. dorsalis in all its features, except that former has 3~ scales between lateral line and pelvic fin base unlike the latter which has 2!. The anal fin in dorsalis has in general three simple rays whereas in cauveriensis only .two are present. It may prove to be a subspecies of dorsalis when more material is analysed. 54 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Some of the data on p. cauveriensis are as below.

54-1 66-3

TL/BD 4.45 4.58 4.49 4.31 TL/LH 4.08 4.27 4.56 4.76 SL/BD 3.5 3.58 3.48 3.35 SL/LH 3.21 3.34 3.54 3.69 LH/Eye 5.07 4.45 4:.63 4.08 LH/LCPD 1.41 1.45 1.38 1.31 LH/HCPD 2.54 2.59 2.44 2.45 LH/Snout 2.73 2.54 2.69 3.06 LH/IOW 2.89 3.35 3.07 3.27 lOW/Eye 1.76 1.33 1.51 1.25 Snout/Eye 1.86 1.75 1.72 1.33 LCPD/HCPD 1.79 1.79 1.77 1.87 D iii, 8 iii, 8 iii, 9 iii, 8 A ii, 5 ii, 5 ii, 6 ii, 5 LL 25 25 27 25 ,Scales between pelvic 3~ 31 31 31 andLL PDS 9 8 9 8 Oircumpeduncular Scales 12 12 12 12 Puntius chola (Hamilton) 1822. Oyprinus chola Hamilton, Fish Ganges (type locality, north-eastern parts of Bengal). Local names.-Kooran kendai,_ Tamil; Okanddu paddaka, Telugu. Material.-120 exs. in total: 5-2; 6-3; 8-24; 9-2; 11-2; 13-2; 14-20 ; 21-1 ; 22-1 ; 26-6 ; 35-1 ; 39-5 ; 45·1 ; 46-20; 47-3; 48-1; 52 .. 2; 63-9 ; 64-12 ; 65-1 ; 70-1 ; 77-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka. Remarks.-A very widely distributed species, which is of common occurrence in all freshwater habitats. The colouration is characteristic of this species. A dark blotch is generally present betwee~ the 21st to 23rd scale on the lateral line, besides a dark mark at base of anterior dorsal ray. In general the lateral line has 26 to 28 scales as mentioned by Day (1889). Pontius conchonius (Hamilton) 1822. Oyprinus conchonius Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, P1?' 317, 389 (type locality, North-east Bengal and rivers Kosi and Ami) Local name.-Kongchon pungti, Bengal. Material.-350 examples in total: 19-12; 33-1; 36-1 ; 46·1 ; 56-1 ; 64-33 ; 66-2 ; 68-4 ; 70-14 ; 71-70 ; 74-129 ; 75-3 ; 77-25 ; 78-43 ; 79·11. ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 55

Distribution.-U. P., Punjab, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa and the Deccan, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Remarks.-P. conchonius is generally confined to North India, but its occurrence in the Cauvary watershed in large numbers is noteworthy of its spread and establishment of the species. Hora (1942), Chacko et al. (1954) did not include this species in their list of Cauvery fishes.

Fig. 10. Lateral of Puntius conchoniu8 (Hamilton) It is also pertinent to point out that the species is more abundant in the mountainous zone than in the plains zone of the Cauvery. In lire the fish is golden violet coloured below the lateral line with the opercle shot with red. In preserved material the dorsal fin is tipped jet black. The caudal spot above anal fin (unlike in p. ticto behind anal fin) is conspicuous. Anal and pelvic fins are tipped black. Generally each scale has a black tinge or a small spot. The length of the lateral line is highly variable as seen from below. Eleven examples from River Kabbani at Nanjangud (10. 5. 77) have the following data. SL LL PDS LL spots inmm scale after scal~ 32 9 13 38 damaged 39 28 9 19 44 '27 9 14 48 27 9 18 51 28 10 12 50 28 10 14 50 28 9 21 54 28 9 13 58 27 9 8 68 25 9 19 56 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36 Puntius coorgensis Jayaram

1982. Pun,tius coorgen,sis Jayaram, Matsya 7, pp. 47-49 (type locality, R. Oauvery at Bhagamandala. Coorg dist., Karnataka). Local names.-Nil. Materiat.-24 exs. in total: 65-24. Distribution.-R. Cauvery in the upper reaches. Remarks.-Reference may be made to Jayarain (1982) for a 'descrip­ tion of this species which is closely allied to p. vittatu8.

Puntius curmuca (Hamilton)

1807. Oyprinus curmuca Hamilton, Journey in Mysore, 3, p. 844, pI. 30 (type locality, of India). Local name.--Ourmuca, Kanarese. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Rajan (1955), Jayaram et al (1976). Distribution.-W. ghats in India. Remarks.-Day (1873, p. 567) pointed out that this species is remak­ able in possessing two pairs of barbels on the maxillaries and none on the snout. p. curmuca is likely two be conf,:!sed with T. mussullah Sykes; the chief differences between the to being the nature of the labial fold ~nd relative lengths of the barbels. Rajan (1955) recorded a single specimen from the headwaters of the Bhavani river and Jayaran:t et al. from the Cardamon hills, S. India.

4'Puntius dorsalis (Jerdon)

1849. Systomus dorsalis Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. & Sci., pp. 814, 816 (type locality. tanks and rivers in the neighbourhood of l\iadras). 1936. Ba'rbus (Puntius) dorsalis, Hora, Ree. Indian Mus., 38, p. 2. Local names.-PaZ pooran Kendai, Sall kendai, Mookanamkendai, Tamil, Marpakke, Kanarese.

Material.-446 exs. in total: 5-15; 6-8; 7-1 ; 8-34; 9-1; 10-1 ; 11-8 ; 12-8 ; 13-1 ; 14-_23 ; 15-2 ; 16-2 ; 17-23 ; 19-10 ; 20-7; 21-2; 22-4; 24-2; 25-4; 26-9; 27-1; 30-10 ; 31-3 ; 35-9 ; 37 .. 1 ; 39-12 ; 40-6 ; 42-2 ; 43-1 ; 44-3 ; 46 .. 34 ; 48-6 ; 49-4 ; 54-4; 56-5; 57-1; 58-2; 64-1; 66-5; 67-2 ; 70-1 ; 78-1 ; 79-158 ; 87-1 ; 89-1 ; 90-7. Distribution.-Krishna, Cauvery, ColerQon river systems in South India, Sri Lanka. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 57

Remarlcs.-The close affinity of this species with p. amphibius has already been discuss.ed. From the frequency distribution data given below it can be seen that the two are distinct in respect of dorsal fin rays and lateral line scale count. Frequency distribution of certain meristic characters in Puntius ampkibius and p. dorsalis La teral line scales

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 P. anJphibius 1 4 17 86 87 22 3 1 P. dorsalis . 1 2 13 47 70 19 2 Tra.nsverse scales

2 2~- 3 31 P. amphimus 1 98 125 5 P. dorsalis 61 ~ Dorsal fin rays iii, 7 iii, 8 iii, 9 iv, 8 P. amphibius 2 228 4 P. dorsalis 162 Anal fin rays ii, 5 iii, 5 P. amphibius 23 206 P. dorsalis 162 Three examples, 90-93 mm in standard length from River Kuda­ murutty at Kandiyur near Thiruvaiyaru have 28-31 scales along the lateral line, 3j to 4i rows of scales transversly, 10 predorsal scales, the dorsal fin with iii,8 and anal fin with iii,S rays. These could be identified as p. puckelli (Day) 1868, known by a single example from Bangalore. Hora (1936) after examining several examples from Chital­ drug district, Karnataka, thought that puclcelli is only a juvenile of dorsalis. However in his report (1940) on the fishes from the Mahanadi head waters he thought otherwise. The material of puckelli is too small to determine its specific status. Puntius dubius Day 1867. Puntius (Barbodes) dubius Day, Proc. zool. Soc. Loncron, p. 291 (type locality, Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri hills). Local names.-Kozhi meen, Kozhi Arinjan Kendai, Tamil; Ogrlu, Kanarese. Mater~al.-6 e~s. in total: 42-2; 53-2 ; 64-2(380~ 325 mm.) 8 58 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Distribution.-Cauvery river system in South India. Its absence in the lower reaches is noteworthy; Remarks.--This-carp contributes an important fishery in the Cauvery system. Chacko et aZ. (1954) have given an analysis of the stomach contents of 50 specimens of this species.

Pontius filamentosus (Valenciennes)

1844. Leuciseus filamentosus Valenciennes, Hist. nat. Poiss., 17, p. 96, pl. 492 (type locality, Alleppey, Kera,la).

1844. Leueiscus m(~hecola Valenciennes, Hist. nat. Poiss., 17, p. 305, p. 502. 1942. Barbus (Puntius) jilamentosus, Hora, Ree. :indian Mus., 39, pp. 22-24. 1973. Puntiusjilamentosus, Tilak, Ree. zooZ. Surv. India 67 (1-4) (1969) p. 98 (Goa).

Local names.-Maocha kendai, Sevvali, Tamil; DMK .fish, English.

Material.-208 exs. in total: All malel~: 10-1; 14-1; 17-6; 18-11; 20-2; 22-1; 25-1 ; 26-1; 30-1; 35-11; 36-3 ; 39-1 ; 40-2 ; 46-3 ; 52-5 ; 54-1 ; 56-4 ; 58-9 ; 62-11 ; 63-44 ; 64-9 ; 65-1 ; 66-2. All females: 35-2; 44-8 ; 54-1 ; 56-1 ; 57-5 ; 61-1 ; 62-15 ; 63-23 ; 6<>-20 ; 68-1. Distribution.-Freshwaters of Kerala, Southern Karanataka, Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka. Remarks.-It is now well known that at breeding time, secondary sexual characters appear in the species. In the males the anterior four or five branched rays of the dorsal fin are prolonged and the snout is

Fig. 11. Lateral view of Puntius fllamentosus (Val.) covered with a patch of large tubercles on either side in front of the eyes. For a number of years, this dimorphism was not noticed and the female of this -species was described as p. mahecola. Hora (1937), ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 59

Hora & Law (1941) demonstrated this and synonymised mahecola with jilamentosus. Data obtained on some material are as below:

LL Scale PDS Blotch on Scale 21 22 23 24 7 8 9 12 13 14 15

No. of exs. 3 20 5 1 3 9 2 1 4 12 7

The anal fin is generally iii,S and dorsal fin iii,8 mostly and very rarely iv,S. Out of the entire lot 77 exs are females referable to the mahecoZa type. The coloration is characterstic of this species in life. A dash of red alternating 'with black on the caudal fin has given it a name "D MK fish" since this color pattern ressembles the flag color of a political party in South India, Tamil Nadu in particular.

Puntius jerdoni Day

1870. Barbus jerdoni Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 372 (type locality, Riven in Kanara below the ghats). 1876. Barbus dobsoni Day, J. Linn. Soc. London, (Zool)., 12, p. 574. 1942. Barbus (Puntius) jerdoni, HoI's, & l\iisra, J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 43 (2), p. 221. Local names.-Saymeen, Kanarese, Tameen, Malayalam, Oha meen, Tulu. Material.-18 exs. in total: 57-18. Dist1oibution.-Kerala, South Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Remarks.-Hora arid Misra (1942) pointed out that p. dobsoni (Day) characterised by smooth snout is the female of p. jerdoni and that the male specimens have tubercles on the snout. They synonymised p. dobsoni with p. jerdoni. All the 18 examples reported here are females as per this criteria. Frequency distribution of certain characters are as below.-

LL DORSAL ANAL FIN 26 27 28 29 iii,9 iii,9 iii,S iii,6 11 7 14 4 17 1 60 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER N'o. 36

Puntius lithopidos Day

1873. Barbus (Barbodes) lithopidos Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 708 (type locality, South Kanara). Local name8.-Kuri meen, Kanarese. Material.-No material obtained by us. Recorded'by Hora & Law (1941). Distribution.-Coorg, S. Kanara, Deccan, Travancore and Madhya Pradesh. Remarks.-Hora & Law (1941) extended the range of this species further down the W. ghats to include Coorg and 'Travancore. This is the only species of Puntius with a thin cartilaginous covering internally to either jaw. The fish is said to reach 60 em (2 feet) in length.

Puntius melanampyx melanampyx Day

1865. Labeo melanampyx Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 298 (type locality, Wynaad) .. Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Cauvery river and its head water streams at base of Wynaad, Nilgiri and Travancore hills. Also known from Nallamalai hills, Eastern ghats. Remarks.-Hora & Law (1941) considered the range of this species as throughout Peninsular India. Misra (1938, p. 258-259) indicated that sexual dimorphism associated with coloration is common in this species.

Puntius melanostigma (Day)

1878. Barbus melanostigma Day, Fish India, p. 573, pl. cxliii, fig. 1 (type local~ty, Wynaad). Local name.-Nil. M aterial.-Eight exs. in total: 65-1 ; 74-7. Distribution.-Wynaad hills, Kerala; Bhavani and Cauvery river system. Remarks.-Not recorded by Hora (1937, 1972) or Rajan (1955). 1bis is the first record of this species subsequent to the its first description. Our largest is 80 mm in standard length. The lateral line scales vary from 26-28, and the number of scales between pelvic fin base and la teral line 3-3j. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 61

Puntius micropogon (Valenciennes) 1841. Barbus micropogon Valenciennes, Hist. nat. Poiss., 16, p. 188 (type locality, ~IY8ore). Local name.-Ooatee kendai, Tamil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Bhavani river and other headwaters of Cauvery at base of Nilgiri hills, Wynaad and S. Kanara range of hills. Remarks.-Attains a large size and has been introduced into reser­ voirs and lakes. Puntius micropogon mysorensis (Jerdon) was resurrected by Mukerji (1937) from the synonynlY of P. micropogon. Raj (1941) described p. micropogon periyarensis a'S a new subspecies from river system. Pending a revision of Puntius-Barbus it seems preferable to treat these two subspecies as synonyms of p. mic1·opogon.

Puntius narayani Hora 1937. Barblils narayani Rora, Rec. Indian Mus., 39 (1), pp. 24-25 (type locality, Cauvery river, Coorg). Local name.-Narayani, Kanarese. M aterial.-One ex. in total: 79-1. Distribution.-Cauvery river in Coorg, Karnataka. Remarks.-In life the caudal fin is tipped red along upper and lower lobes.

Puntius nigrofasciatus Giinther 1868. Barbus nigro!asciatus Gunther, Oat. Ftsh. Brit. Mus., 7, p. 155 (type locality, S. Ceylon). 1989. Barbus nigrojasciatus, Hora, l\iisra & l\ialik, Ree. Indian Mus, 41 (3), p. 273 (diagnostio features, comparison). Local name.-Nil. MateriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Chacko et ale (1954) from "Cauvery river". Distribution.--Sri Lanka. 1 Cauvery river, Tamil Nadu.

Puntius parrab Day 1865. Puntius parrah Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 301 (type locality, Kuriavanoor near Trichur). Local name.-Parrah perles, Malayalam Material.-15 exs. in total: 56-1 ; 73-8 ; 74-5 ; 75-1. 62 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36 Distribution.-Kerala, South ICarnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Remarks.-The exa~ple from Stn. 75 Lakshmanathirtha, Boianhalli (8. 5. 77) measuring 94 mm in standerd length has 26 scales in lateral line, 3~ rows of scales between pelvic base and lateral line, and ii,7 in dorsal and 7 rays in anal fin. The upper half of body above the lateral line is dark. The eight examples from Stn. 73 River Hemavathy at S. R. D. Katte (7. 5. 77) were scarlet coloured when caught fresh with the operc.1e blood red ; dorsal fin was tinged black.

Puntius sarana subnasutus (Val.)

1865. GyclocheZichthys pinnauratus Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 300; Fish. Malabar, p. 209, pl. 15, fig 2 (type locality, Wynaad). 1963. Puntius sarana subnasutus, l\fenon, Spolia zeylanica, 30 (1) p. 69. Local name.-Nil. M aterial.-Three exs, in total : 44-2 ; 46-1 ; Di8tribution.-Krishna, Cauvery river systems in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively.

Remarks.-Hora and Misra (1942) synonymised P. p innauratu 8 Day with p. sarana sarana stating that specimens from northern India have more predorsal scales than those from southern India and Burma. Pillay (1951) after a biometric comparison of sarana and pinnauratus considered the latter as a race of the former. Menon (1954) recorded pinnauratur8 as a full-fledged species of Puntius from Malaya. However in 1963 he synomymi~ed it with p. sarana subnasutu8. In general it would seem that P. pinnauratu8 has 10 predorsal scales unlike p. 8arana having 11 or 12 predorsal scales. In coloration also pinnauratu8 is lighter than sarana. Further stQ.dy on the problem is needed to determine whether pinnauratuB is a separate species or not.

Puntius pulcbellus (Day)

1870. Barbus (Ba1'bodes) pulchellus Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 372 (type locality, S. Kanara) Local names.-KhatZadi, Kanarese; Tulu, Malayalam; Khudia, Marathi. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942) and Rajan (1955). Distribution.-South Kanara (Day, 1878), Mysore (Hora, 1942). }AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 63

Remark8.-Reported to attain a length of about 45 ems. Hora and Misra (1942) synonymised this species with Puntiu8 jerdoni Day, but the count of lateral line scales 30-35 and relative length of the dorsal fin clearly distinguishes this species.

Punt ius sarana sarana (Hamilton)

1822. CYl'rinus sarana Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 307 (type locality, Gangetic system, Bengal). Local names.-Panjalai, Saanee kendai, Tamil; Kannaku, Telugu; GiiJ,pakke, Kanarese.

Fig. 12. Lateral view of Puntius sarana saran a (Hamilton)

Material.-270 exs. in total: 5-15 ; 6-11 ; 7-7 ; 8-67 ; 12-2 ; 13-1 ; 14-1 ; 15-2; 17-4; 19-3; 20-2; 21-1; 22-4 ; 25-3 ; 26-14 ; 27-2 ; 29-7; 30-9; 31-4 ; 32·25; 33-3; 34-5; 35-12; 36-5 ; 37-8 ; 38-4 ; 39-4 : 40-9 ; 42·6 ; 46-1 ; 47-5; 48-2; 49-2; 54-1; 56-4; 58-2; 59-1 ; ~0-1; 62-3; 64-3; 79-4 ; 78-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burm~, Thailand and China.

Puntius sopbore (Hamilton)

1822. 0llprinus sophora Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 310, 319, pI. 19, fig. 86 (type locality, ponds of Bengal). 1944. Leuciscus stigma Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. poiss., 17, p. 93, pl. 489 (type locality, M ysore) Local r6ame8.-Kulla kendai, kurun ehelli, Tamil; Kolla kendai, Katen karawa, Kanarese. 64 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Material.-396 exs. in total: 5-11, 8-50; 9-2; 11-4; 13-2; 21~70; 25-1 ; 26-2; 27-2; 31-1; 33-1 ; 35-11 ; 38-2 ; 39-9 ; 45-2 ; 46-145 ; 49-3 ; 53-1 ; 54-2 ; 55-3 ; 56-3 ; 57-5 ; 64-4 ; 65-18 ; 70-2 ; 73-2 ; 79-30 ; 85-8. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma and Yunnan. Remarks.-Chaudhury (1916) clarified the errors in Hamilton's original description of this species in respsct of the barbels and also the erroneous identification of Day (1878) of material not referable to this species at all. p. sophore is without barbels and is a most common fish in Ben~al and other parts of the country. There is no justification in retaining p. stigma without barbels, as a separate species. As the name sopkore has priority over stigma, the latter is synonymised with the former. Two examples from stn, 73, River Hemavathy at S. R. D, Katte, Hole Narsipura (7.5.77) have a red streak along the opercle. The caudal fin spot is black. in life, on preservation the red colour turns into black.

Puntius thomassi (Day)

1878, Barbus (Barbodes) thomassi Day, Proc. eoal. 80c. London, p. 707 (type locality. S. Kanara). Local name.-Kempu peruwaZ, Kanarese (Red Mahaseer). MateriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-S. Kanara, Karnataka. May be found in the upper reaches of the tributaries of the Cauvery -river system.

Puntius ticto ticto (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus ticto Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 814, 889, pI. 8, fig. 87 (type locality J Southeastern parts of Bengal). Local name.-Pulli kendai, Tamil. Material.-278 exs. in total: 19-11; 35 .. 1 ; 36-1 ; 39-1 ; 49-6; 56-1; 57-6; 63-6; 64-32; 65-39; 66-40; 67-1; 71-35; 78 .. 23 ; 81-59 ; 86-1 ; 87-15. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Remarks.-This species is diagnosed by its prominent black spot above the anal fin, and the incomplete lateral line. Based on specimens with complete lateral line, Day (1878) described Barbu~ punct~t1t8 from ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 65 peninsular India, Barbu8 stoliczkanU8 from Burma which are all synony­ mous with this species. Hora, Misra and Malik (1939) critically analysed the variations in respect of the important characters of this species. Hora and Law (1941) state that specimens with complete lateral line have been found in Peninsular India. In the material listed above in none of the specimens the lateral line is complete. In one or two the lateral line extends beyond the posterior dark spot, in many up to the beginning of the posterior spot and in a few up to the 10th or 11th scale from the anterier. Further, Hora and Misra (1939) demonstrated that the males were coloured on the dorsal and anal fins besides having horny tubercles on the caudal fin, and that the females were plain without the tubercles. In the material from the Cauvery, about eight examples are coloured thus but these and all others are without any tubercles. The 11 examples from stn. 19. Puthar-Valarvar river near Vadaseri are all jueveniles but all are with the anterier spot gene~al1y on the third and fourth scale. Six examples 8u-S6 mm in total length from River Cauvery at Mettur are bright silvery in colour resembling P. conckonius but in all other respects agreeing with p. ticto. The posterior spot above the lateral line is generally over the 18-20th scale.

Puntius vittatus Day

1865. Puntiu8 vittatu8 Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 303 (type locality, 1\:Iadras). Local name.-Kooli, Hindi. M aterial.-18 exs. in total: 65-18. Distribution.-Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, also Goa, Kutch, Rajastahan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan. Remarks.-The lateral line is incomplete. Some of the examples have a dark band on the dorsal fin.

Puntius wynaadensis Day

1873. Barbus (Barliodes) wynaadensis Day, J. Linn. Soc. Zool., 11, p. 528 (type locality, Vithry in Wynaad, Kerala). Local name.-Nil. Material.-One example in total: 70-1. Distribution.-Wynaad, Kerala and headwaters of Cauvery. 9 66 REe. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oee. PAPER No. 36 Genus Rohtee Sykes Rohtee ogilbii Sykes

1841. Rohtee ogiUii Sykes, Trans. zooZ. Sao. London, 2, p. 364, pl. lxiii, fig. 2 (type locality, H. Bhima at Pairgaon, l\{aharashtra). Local names.-Nil. Material.-. No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Rora (1937).

Fig. 13. Lateral view of Rohtee ogilbii (Sykes).

Di8tribution.-Krishna and in the Deccan ; nlay also be in the Cauvery headwaters.

Genus Osteobrama Heckel

KEY TO SPECIES 1. Barbels absent'. o. cotio cotio Barbels present. o. neilli

Osteobrama cotio cotio (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus ootiD Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 339, pl. 89, fig. 93 (type locality, ponds and ditches of Bengal). Local names.,-Patta kunju, Tamil. Material.-Two examples in total: 64-2. Distribution.-Throughout India except Malabar, rare in the Cauvery system especially in areas below Krishna. Also~ Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, China. Osteobrama neilli Day

1873. Rohtee neilli Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 239 (type locality, Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri hills). Local names.-Nil.

MateriaZ.-No specimen obtain~d by us. Recorded by Hora (1932). Di8tribution.-Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri hills.

Genus Labeo euvier

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Dorsal fin rays not . more than 13. Only one pair of barbels.

Dorsal fin rays more than 13. Mostly two pairs of barbels (L. potaU exception with one pair). 6 2. Lateral line scales 60-65. Scales between pelvic :fin base and lateral line 8 or 9. L. boggut Lateral line scales not more than 54. Scales between pelvic fin base and lateral lin~ not more than 7. 8

3. Snout with a dbtinct lateral lobe. L. pangusia Snout without a,ny lateral lobe. 4

4. A horny covering inside lower jaw. Eyes 5.5- 6.0 in head length. 5 No horny covering inside lower jaw. Eyes 4-4.5 in head length. L. bata 5. Dorsal fin inserted slightly posterior to tip of pectoral fin. L. ariza

Dorsal fin inserted above tip or slightly an terior to tip of pectoral fin. L. boga

6. Dorsal fin rays 19-22. L. flmbriatus Dorsal fin rays 13-18. 7

7. Lateral line scales 58-60. L. dussumieri

Lateral line scales less than 50 (88-47). III 8

8. Lower lip not separated from isthmus by a post-labial grove. L. potail

Lower lip separated from isthmus by a post .. labial groo"et 9 68 REc. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Gee. PAPER No. 36

9. Dorsal fin with 15-16 rays. Only 5 rows of scales between lateral line and pelvio fin base. Head length 6 to 7 times in total length. Snout blunt, truncated. L. konU,us Dorsal fin with 16-18 rays. 5!-6! rows of scales between lateral line and pelvio fin base. Head length 4.5-6 in total length. Snout obtuse. 10

10. Dorsal fin with 15-16 rays. 6-6! rows of scales between lateral line and pelvio fin base. Head length 4.5-5 in total length. Bluish or brownish above and silvery below. L. rohita Dorsal fin with 16-18 rays. 5!-6 rows of scales between lateral line and pelvic fin base. Head length 5-6 in total length. Blaokish becoming lighter below. L. calbasu

Labeo ariza (Hamilton)

1807. Oyprinus ariza Hamilton, Journey Mysore, 3, p. 344, pl. 31 (type locality, rivers of peninsular India). Local names.-Ooal kenaai, Tamil MateriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-Bhavani river at the foot of Nilgiri hills and the Cauvery river. Known from Wynaad also.

Labeo bata (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus bata Hamilton, Fis7~ Ganges, pp. 283, 386 (type locality, rivers and ponds of Bengal). Local names.-Nil.

MateriaZ.-46 exs. in total: 6-1; 15-4; 18-1; 20-2; 30-1 ; 35-30 (100-133 mm SL) 39-1 ; 48-4 ; 77-2. Distribution.--Cauvery, Krishna and Godavary river systems in South India; Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, U. P., Bihar, West Bengal, Assam. Bangladesh.

Labeo boga (Hamilton)

1882. Oyprinus boga Hamilton, Fish Ga1tges~ pp. 286, 886, pl. 28, fig. 80 (type locality, R. Brahmaputra). Local, names.-Kinda meen, Kolarinja kendal, Tamil, Ariza, Telugu. JAYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 69

Material.-72 exs. in total; 4-28; 5-28; 6-1; 20-2; 30-1; 35-9; 40-3. Distribution.-Rivers of Gangatic provinces, Madras and Burma according to Day 1878.

Labeo boggut (Sykes) 1841. Ohondrostoma boggut Sykes" Trans. zool. Soc. London, 2, p. 359 (type locality, Poona waterways). Local name.-Nil.

Material.-One ex. in to~al : 64-1. Distribution. -Throughout India except Kerala. Pakistan. Bangladesh.

Labeo calbasu (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus calbasu Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 297, 389, pI. 2, fig. 33 (type locality, rivers and ponds of Bengal and in the western provinces). Local names.-Kakka meen, Karuppusel, Karum cheZ, Tamil. Macchilu, Kanarese.

Fig. 14. Lateral view of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) .

.1..1Jaterial.-51 exs., in total: 5-8; 6-4 ; 7-5 ; 9-1 ; 18-3 ; 20-2 , 24-2 ; 25-3 (250 mm TL); 26-1; 31-2 ; 35-4 ; 40-5; 44-1; 48-3; 63-2; 64-5 (240 rom TL). Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Yunnan.

Labeo dussumier'j (Valenciennes)

1841. Rohita dussumieri Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 16, p. 258" pl. 475 (type locality, Alleppey, Kerala). Local names.-Toulee, Malayalam. 70 REc. ZOOL. SURV. iNDIA, OCc. PAPER No. 36 Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937); Distribution.-Rivers of southern part of Kerala and Cauvery head­ waters. Sri Lanka. Occurrence in Bombay (Day, 1889) doubtful.

Labeo fimbriatus (Bloch)

1797. Oyprinus fimbriatus Bloch, Ichthyol., t 2, p. 5., pI. 409 (type locality, l\Iadras). Local names.-Gundumani Sel, Bel kendai, Tamil; Kemm.een, Kanarese. Material.-Six exs. in total: 20-3 (158 mm TL) , 22-1 (320 mm TL) ; 26-1 (105 mm SL) ; 51-f. Disir{bution.-Throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Labeo kontius (Jerdo.n)

1842. Oyprinus kontius Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. & Sci., p. 302 (type locality, Oauvery and its tributaries). Local names.-Ourrumuzhi kendai, Ourrumunee kendai, Tamil; Kal cher, K ontielu, Kanarese. Material.-Six exs. in total: 37-3 ; 48-2 ; 52·1. Distribution.-Cauvery river system in South Karantaka, Tamil Nadu. Remarks.-Dorsal profile with a distinct hump at base of dorsal fin. The shape of the dorsal profile is very characterstic, of this species. In life each scale has a red mark at its center.

Labeo pangusia (Hamilton)

1822. Oypri,nus pangusia Hamilton, Fish, Ganges, pp. 285, 386 (type locality, River Kosi). Local names.-Nil. Material.-26 exs. in total; 13-1; 18-4; 20-5; 24-1; 35-1; 37-2; 40-6 ; 42-1 ; 48-1 ; 51-2 ; 74-1 ; 77-1. Distribution.-Himalayan range and generally throughout Sind, the Deccan, N. W. Provinces to Bengal, Cachar and Assam (Day, 1878). Remarks.-Some of the larger examples have a deep groove across the snout with many tubercles and pores.

Labeo potail (Sykes)

1841. Oyprinus potail Sykes, Trans. zool. Soc. London, 2, p. 354 (type localily, Beema river, l\£aharashtra). Local names.-Nil. Material.-37 exs. in total 35-28 ; 36·7 ; 44-2. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 71

Distribution.-, Poona and the Deccan. This is the first record of the species from the Cauvery system. Labeo robita (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus rohita Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 301, 388, pl. fig. 85 (type locality, freshwater rivers of the Gangetic provinces). Local names,-Kannadi kendai, Roku, Tamil. Mater,ial.-26 exs. in total: 7-2 ; 14-3 ; 18-3 ; 19-1 ; 20-1 ; 23-7 ; 24-1 ; 37-1 ; 39-5 ; 60-1 ; 64-1.

Fig. 15. Lateral view of Labeo rahita (Hamilton).

Distribution. -Throughout northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma. Introduced into south Indian rivers and well established.

Genus Tor Gray

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Scales between pel vic fin base and lateral line 2! rows. Maxillary batr1;>els not prominent.... T. khud1'60 Bcales between pel vic fin base and lateral line 31 rows. IV[axillary barbels prominent. T, mussullah

Tor khudree (Sykes)

1841. Barbus khudree Sykes, Trans. zool. Soc. London, 2, p. 35 (type locality, !\iutha !\iula river Poona). 1848. Barbus malabaricus Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. Sci. 15, p. 312 (type locality, mountain streams of 1\falabar). 1938. Barbus khudree, Hora & l\iisra, J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc, 40 (1), pp. 24-27 TF. 1 (description). Local names.-Poomeen, Pomueen, Tamil; Bili meen, Kanarese ; Kudie, Telugu. Material.-31 exs. in total: 5-1; 14-2; 15-2; 20-1; 36-3 ; 40-6 ; 42-2 ; 48-3 ; 50-6 ; 65-3 ; 84-2. 72 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

Distribution.-Rivers of Western Ghats, such as Godavary, Krishna, and oCauvery and their tributaries. Remarks.-In life olive green with fins tipped pink and with a faint streak along lateral1ine. Hora (1939, 1940, 1941, 1942) in a series of articles elucidated the of fishes grouped under "Mahseer". In peninsular India, Tor khudree (Sykes) often called the Black Mahseer ~nd Tor mU8ullah (Sykes) are alone found. The Himalayan and sub­ himalayan Tor tor (Hamilton) and T01' putitora (Hamilton) have not been so far recorded from S. India.

Fig, 16. Lateral view of To?' khudree (Sykes). Tor khudree is characterised by the presence of 2j rows of scales between pelvic base and lateral line and absence of any tubercles on the snout. Hora and Misra (1938) gave a good description of the species. Hora (1943, p. 166) conclusively proved that Jerdon's B. malabaricus is a synonym of this species. Some data obtained on the material from the Cauvery river at Bhagamandala are as below : SL LL PDS BD LH 99 24 8 29 27 93 23 7 28 26 100 24 7 28 28 106 24 8 26.5 25 Tor mussullah (Sykes)

1841, Barbus mussullah Sykes, Trans zool. Soc. London, 2, p. 356 (type locality, Sirur o on Ghod river near Poona). i943. Barbus mussullah, Hora, J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 43 (2), pp. 164-16.7, pt. II, 44 (1), pp. 5-6 (description). Local names.-Masundi, Marathi , Bhavani Mah8eer, EnglIsh. Material,-No specimen obtained by us. }AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 73

Distribution.-Rivers of Western ghats, such as the Krishna, Cauvery, Bhavany and their tributaries. Remarks.-This is considered to be the largest of the two Deccan Mahaseers, growing to enormous size in the Cauvery and its tributary streams. A length of about 4.5 ft. i~ known. Tor mussullak (Sykes) is the second Mahseer fish in southern India. Hora (1942) clarifying the systematic position of Sykes' species of Barbus from the Deccan, initially thought mU88ullak as a probable syno­ nym of p. carnaticu8 (Jerdon), but later in 1943 on the basis of fresh material from W. ghats showed that mU88ullah is a species of the genus Tor clearly distinct from p. carnaticu8. A comparison of .the three species is given below for easy identification: Characters Tor khudree Tor mussullah P. carnaticus SL/LH 3.1-3.8 2.8-4.0 4.25-4.75 SL/BD 3.4-3.9 2.5-4.0 3.0-3.7 Scales between pel vic base and LL 2! 3l- 31 Body Long not very deep Short, deep Short, deep Scales Large :l\foderate :l\foderate Lips Thick, folded Thin Thick Tubercles Not conspicuous Conspicuous Present 1\1:axillary barbels Not prominent Prominent Prominent LL 25-27 25-26 28-29

Genus Cirrbinus (Oken) euvier

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Dorsal fin with 8 branched rays. 2 Dorsal fin with 11 or more than 11 branched rays. 3 2. Iateralline scales 48. Dorsal fin nearly as high as body. O. iu l'ltngee Lateral line scales 35-38. Dorsal fin less than body depth. O. reba 3. Foar barbels. O. cirrhosa Two barbels. O. mrigaZa Cirrbinus cirrhosa (Bloch)

1797. 01l:prinus cirrhosa Bloch, Ichth., 12, p. 52, fig. 411 (type locality, the Cauvery). LocaZ name8.-Ven kendai, Tamil. MateriaZ.-69 exs. in total: 6-1; 13-1; 14-1; 15-6; 18-2; 25-18 ; 32-4 j.35-16 ; 39-5 ; 42-1 ; 44-1 ; 45·4 ; 48-5 ; 53-1 i 55-2 ; 59-1. lO 74 REe. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCc. PAPER No. 36 Distribution.-Cauvery, Krishna, Godavary rivers in S. India. Remarks.'-14 examples out of 18 collected from Stn. 25, River Vennar at V. V. R. (1.2.77) measuring 84-130 mm in standard length have 41 scales along lateral line, with the upper part of head and dorsal profile dark brown with a silvery base. Larger examples are however uniformly golden coloured in life. Of these only one has 16 rays in the dorsal fin, four with 18 rays and all others with 17 rays.

CirrbinDS fulungee (Sykes)

1841. OhondrostonJa fulungee Sykes, Trans. zool. Soc. London, 2, p. 358 (type locality. Poona waterways). LocaZ name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Poona and Deccan according to Day (1889). May be found in the catchment area of the Cauvery basin.

Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

1822. Oyprinus mrigala Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 279, 886, pI. 6, fig. 78 (type locality, ponds and freshwater rivers of the Gangetic provinces). Local names.-Pudu kendai, Mrigala, Tamil. Material.-26 exs. in total: 12-3 ; 18-6 ; 24-6 ; 26-1 ; 29-1 ; 35-1 ; 39-5 ; 59-2 ; 76-1.

Fig. 17. Lateral view of Oirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton).

Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma. Very widely introduced into many river systems and reservoirs, tanks etc. Remarks.-The Tamil name "pudu kendai" meaning new carp aptly lildicates its introdu~tion in the CaQvery system, ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 75

Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton) 1822. Cyprinus reba Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 280, 386 (type locality, rivers and ponds of Bengal and Bihar). Local names: Arinjan, ]{ulla arinjan, Tamil. Arja, Kanarese. Material.-693 exs. in total: 1-1 ; 5-16 ; 6-3 ; 8-112 ; 9-2 ; 11-14 ; 12-6 ; 13-2 ; 14-28 ; 16-6 ; 17-22 ; 20-19 ; 21-10 ; 22-1 ; 23-1 ; 24-2 ; 25-8 ; 26-26 ; 28-2 ; 29-3; 34-1; 35-90 ; 36-18; 37-8 ; 39-3 ; 40-2 ; 42-6 ; 43-1 ; 44-2 ; 45·1 ; 46-53; 47-4; 48-17; 49-14; 51-3; 54-17; 55-17; 56 .. 8; 57-6; 58-54 ; 62-11 ; 63-16 ; 64-42 ; 71-2 ; 77-6 ; 79-2 ; 90-5. Di8tribution.-Throughout India. Remarks.-By far the most dominant species in the Cauvery system especially in the lower deltaic regions, this species actively competes with other better varieties of carp and has been able to replace many of them. Attaining 30 cm in length which is not very often seen, a size of generally 15 cms is common. Though not of much value in flesh content it is compensated by numbers. In the V. V. R. dam this fish is abundantly caught by a suspended bamboo frame of net described elsewhere.

Genus Osteocheilus Gunther

I{EY TO SUBGENERA

1. Dorsal fin with a serrated spine. }{antaka Dorsal fin without any spine. Osteochilichthys

Subgenus Osteochilichthys Hora

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Lateral line scales less than 40. Body depth 3.5 in total length. No black band along middle of body. A dark band along dorsal fin present. O. (Osteochilichthys) thomassi Lateral line scales more than 40. Body depth 4.0 or more in total length. A black band from eye to centre of caudal fin present. O. (Osteochilichthys) nashii

Osteocheilus (Osteochilichthys) nashii (Day)

1868. Barbus nashii Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 584 (type locality, Fraserpet, Coorg). Local names.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-Coorg, Wynaad, S. Kanara. 76 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Occ. PAPER No. 36 Osteocheilus (Osteochilichthys) thomassi Day

1878. Scaphiodon thomassi Day, Fish India, p. 551, pl. 134, fig. 1 (type locality, S. Kanara). Local names.-Konti, Kanarese. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-S. Kanara. Cauvery river system.

Osteocheilus (Kantaka) brevidorsalis (Day)

1873. Semiplotus brevidorsalis Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 239 (type locality, N ilgiri hills). Local name.-Mian kendai, Tamil. Material.-4 exs. in· total: 54-1 ; 62-1 ; 84-2. Distribution.-Rivers below Nilgiri hills in S. India. Remarks.-Two examples 104 and 110 mm in standard length obtained from Stn. 84. River Cauvery at Sivasamudram, have 39 and 41 scales along the lateral line, 11 or 12 branched dorsal fin rays, ii, 6 a~al fin

, 2 em. ,

Fig. 18. Lateral view of Osteocheilus brevi dorsalis (Day). rays, with the labial fold interrupted. No color bands along the lateral line are present. Pores below eyes indistinct, but on snout clear.

The example from R. Cauvery at Chikalur (Stn. 54) had in life a broad green hue along middle of body with the fins tinged green especially the dorsal fin. ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 77

Genus Catla Valenciennes Catla catla (Hamilton) 1822. Oyprinus catla Hamilton, Fish. Ganges pp. 287, 387, pl. 13, :fig. 81 (type locality, in the rivers and tanks of Bengal). Local narnes.-Tkoppa meenu, Yamaneri kendai, Tamil; Botcha, Telugu. M aterial.-One ex. in total: 20-1.

Fig. 19. Lateral view of Catla catla (Hamilton). Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Remarks.-With the exception of the Mahseers, this ~s the largest carp in India, attaining a maximum length of 6 feet and a weight of 70 kgs. It breeds now in the Mettur reservoir. Genus Ctenopharyngodon Steindachner Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes) 1844. Leu,ciscus idella Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 17, p. 362 (type locality, China). Local name.-Grass carp, English MateriaZ.-Two exs. in total: 77-2. Distribution.-Naturally found in Amur region (Siberia and Manchuria) ; North China to South China, U. S. S. R., Lower reaches of R. Amur. Intro.duced in~o India.

Subfamily GARRINAE Genus Garra McClelland KEY TO SPECIES 1. Proboscis present. G. gotyZa stenorhynchus Proboscis absent. 2 2. Lateral line scales 34 or fewer. G. rnullya Lateral line scales 35-36. G. mcOlellandi 78 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Garra gotyla stenorhynchos (Jerdon)

1849. Gonorhynchus stenorhynchus Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. SCi." 15, p. 810 (type locality, Bhavani river, Nilgiris). Local name.-Nil. Material.-One ex. in total: 42-1. Distribution.-Cauvery and Krishna river systems, S. India.

Garla mcClellandi (Jerdon)

1849. Gorwrhynchus mcOlellandi Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. Sci., 15, p. S09 (type locality, Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri hills and also in the l\fanantoddy river). 1964. Garra mcOlellandi l\Ienon, Mem. Indian Mus., 14 (4), p. 228 (revision). Local names.--Kallu koravai, Tamil. Material.-Two exs. in total: 54-2. Di8tribution.-From Syria throughout India, Sri Lanka, and Burma as per Day (1878). In India confined to rhe Cauvery drainage in upper reaches.

Garra mullya (Sykes)

1841. Ohondrostoma mullya Sykes, Trans. zooZ. Soc. London, 2, p. S59, pl. 62, fig. S (type locality, Poona waterways). 1864. Garro, muZZya. l\fenon, Mem. India/It Mus., 14 (4), p. 212 (revision). Local names.-Kallu kuravai, Tamil; Pandi paklca, Kanarese.

Material.-75 exs. in total: 18-1; 24-1 j 25-1; 47-7 ; 51-2 ; 52-2 ; 54-3 ; 55-1 ; 56-5 ; 58-2 ; 61-1 ; 62-1 ; 63-11; 67-2; 70-1; 71-2; 76-1; 77-6 ; 78-2 ; 81-1 ; 82·3 ; 84-19. Distribution.-Throughout India except Assam and Himalaya. Remarks.-In life, body above lateral line dark, below lateral line golden tinged. Fins tipped yellow, the lateral line forming a black stripe.

Family HOMALOPTEB,IDAB

KEY TO GENERA

1. Gill openings small and situated entirely above base of pectoral fins. Bhavania (B. austraUs) Gill openings of moderate size extending to the ven tral surface for a short distance. Balitora (B. 1nY8orenris) ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 79

Genus Bhavania Hora Bhavania australis (Jerdon)

1848. Platycara australis J erdon, Mad1'as J. Lit. Sci., 15, p. 333 (type locality J Waliar). 1941. Bhavania australis, Hora, Ree. Indian Mus., 43, p. 225. LocaZ name.-Nil. MateriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Chacko et aZ. (1954). Di8tribution.-.Wynaad, Sethumadai hills, Mysore, Kallar stream near Trivandrum. Remar1cs.-Hora (1941) has ably discussed the misidentification of Homaloptera maeulata by Day, which is synonymous with this species.

Genus Balitora Gray Balitora mysorensis Hora

1941. Bal1t

1978. Balitora mysorensis, ~{enon et al., Matsya, 3, pp. 31-34. Local names.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-Cauvery and Thunga river systems, Karnataka.

Family COBITIDAE

KEY TO SUBFAl\iILIES

1. No spine under or before eye. NOEl\iACHEILINAE An erectile spine arising from the ethmoid bone and concealed in a, groove under or before each eye. COBITINAE (Genus Lepidocephalich thys)

Subfamily NOEMACHEILINAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Anterior nostril prolonged into a long nasal barbel. A well developed adipose keel on upper part of caudal peduncle in continuation with caudal fin. Oreonectes Anterior nostril simple. No adipose keel'on c"udalpeduncle. ." Noemacheilus 80 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPBR No. 36

Oreonectes evezardi (Day)

1878. Nemachilus evezardi Day, Fish India, p. 613, pl. 153, fig. 11 (type l!lcality, Poona). 1968. Oreonectes evezardi, Banarescu & Nalbant, Mitt. Hamburg. Zool. Mus. Inst., 65, p. 339. Local name.-.Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by ChaCKO et aZ. (1954). Distribution.-Travancore hills, Kerala, W. ghats, Pachmarhi hills, Bailadila range, Bastar.

Genus Noemacheilus van Hasselt

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Lateral line incomplete. 2 Lateral line complete. 4: 2. Caudal fin truncate and cut square. N. smuatus Oaudal fin emarginate or forked. 3 3. Body with three rows of pale spots with faint indications of pale bands in tail region. A well defined black spot on co, udal base present. N. guentheri Body with 9-12 vertical bands encircling. Anterior b~nds may coalese on back. N. deni80nii 4. Dorsal fin with nine or ten branched rays. N. striatw Dorsal fin with seven or eight branched rays. 5. A dark line running the centre of the back. Body with numerous irregularly shaped spots and bars proceeding from back up to lateral line. N. semiarmatus A well developed moniliform lateral black band along lateral line in middle of body from caudal base to snout tip. N. moniUs

Noemacheilus denisonii Day

1867. Nemacheilus denisonii Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 287 (type locality, N ilgiri and Coorg hills). Local names.-Nil. Material.-l1 exs. in total: 65-7 ; 66-4. J)istribution.-Rivers in the base of Nilgiri and Coorg hills. ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 81

Remarks.-The seven examples from Stn. 65. 'River at Bhagamandala measuring 46-74 mm in total length have eight to ten bands on body.

Fig. 20. Lateral view of N. denisonii Day

The bands are incomplete in adults but complete in juveniles. A black spot at base of dorsal fin is present.

Noemacheilus guentheri Day

1867. Nemachilu8 guenther' Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 285 (type locality, rivers along lower slopes of Nilgiri hills). Local names.-NU. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Rajan (1955). Distribution.-Rivers along base of Nilgiri hills.

Noemacheilos monilis Hora

1921. Nemachilus monilis Hora, Rec. Indian Mus.,22 (1), pp. 19, 20 (type locality, Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri -hills). Local names.-Nil. MateriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-Bhavani river, Mettupalayam, Nilgiri hills.

Noemacheilos semiarmatus Day

lS67. Nemacheil~"s semiarmatus Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 286 (type locality, Bhavani and Sigur rivers at base of Nilgiri hills). Local names.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-Bhavani and Sigur rivers at base of Nilgiri hills. Also known from Karnataka, likely to be obtained from the headwaters of Cauvery. II 82 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36. Noemacheilus sinuatus Day 1870. Nemacheilus sinuatus Day, Froc, zool. Soc. London, p. 371 (type locality, Wynaad). Local natne.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937, 1942). Distribution.-Wynaad, and Mysore. Likely to occur in the head­ waters of Cauvery.

Noemacbeilus striatus Day 1867. Nemachilus striatus Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 347 (type locality, Wynaad, Kerala). Local names.-Kal-irum, Kal-nakura, Tamil (=Stone licking). Material.-Six exs. in total: 84-6. Dist1·ibution.-Wynaad, Kerala. This is the first record of this species from the Cauvery system.

Subfamily COBITINAE Genus Lepidocepbalus Bleeker Lepidocepbalus (Lepidocephalichthys) thermalis (Valenciennes) 1846. Oobitis thermaZis Valenciennes, Hist. nat. Poiss., 17, p. 78 (type locality, Ceylon). Local names.-Asarat, Ta~il. Material.-325 exs. in total: 19-32; 43-220; 44-1; 46-3; 65-44; 66-24 ; 81-1. Distribution-Southern Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Order SILURIFORMES Family BAGRIDAE KEY TO GENERA 1. Interneural shield in between occipital process and basal bone of dorsal fin present. Aorichtbys Interneural shield absent. Mystus

Genus Mystus Scopoli KEY TO SPECIES 1. Adipose dorsal :fin commencing almost after rayed dorsal fin. ••• 2 Adipose dorsal :fin commencing after some c~nsiderable ip.te~space. •.. ••• 3 ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 83

2. !\{a,xillary barbels reach anal fin. In terorbi tal width Jess than 3.0 (2.0 to 3.0) in head length. No dark spot at base of dorsal fin. M. bleekeri :r.{axillary barbels reach caudal fin base or beyond. Interorbital width more than 3.0 (3.0 to 4.0) in head length. A dark spot at base of dorsal fin. M. cavas1uS

s. Body plain without any colour bands. 4 Body with one or two longitudinal colour bands on either side of the lateral line. 5

4. Occipital crest rugose. No blotch at base of cauda.l fin. Adipose dorsal fin base shorter than or eqnal to anal fin base. M. gulio Occipital crest smooth. A dark blotch at base of ca~dal fin. Adipose dorsal fin base longer than anal fin base. M. armatu3 5. Occipital process reaching basal bone of dorsal fin. 6 Occipital process not reaching basal bone of dorsal fin. ... 7 6. Eye diameter 3.5 to 4.0 in head length. Body with a bluish shoulder spot and a silvery line along side ending in a dark spot at caudal fin base; one or two light bands along sides above lateral line. M. montanu$

Eye diameter 4.5 to 5.0 in head length. Body with 3 or 4 longitudinal colour bands above and below lateral line. A dark shoulder spot. No spot at base of caudal fin. M. vittatus 7, :r.ledian longitudinal groove on head not reach­ ing base of occipital process. M. malabaricu8 :r.ledian longitudinal groove on head reaching base of occipital process, 8 8. Ten black rounded solid spots along lateral line. Body depth 7.8 to 8.4 in standard length. M. punctatus Several clusters of SUlan vertical spots along anterior half of lateral line. Body depth 4.4 to 5.0 in standard length. M. menoda menoda 84 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36 Mystus armatus (Day)

1865. Hypselobagrus aTmatus Day, Proc. zool. Soc. London, p. 289 (type locality, ~falabar). Local name.-Ouaree, Malayalam. ad I bl tch /

af

Fig. 21. Lateral view of Mystus armatus (Day) Material.-Nine exs. in total: 70-9. Distribution.-Wynaad, Cauvery watershed, S. India.

Mystus bleekeri (Day)

1846. Bagrus keletius keletius {nee. Valenciennes}, Nat. & Geneesh. Arch. Ned. In.d., 3 (2), p~ 135 (type locality, Bengal). Local names.-Nil.

af ~~~=---"~~~~---J11 ax. b .

Fjg. 22. Lateral view of Mystus .bleekeri (Day) Material.-70 exs. in total: 19-7; 20-9; 39-1 ; 43-2 ; 44·16 ; 47-1 ; 48-1 ; 54-1 ; 78-2 ; 79 .. 30. Distribution.-Throughout India; Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma.

Mystus ~avasius (Hamilton) 1822. Pimelodus cavasius Hamilton, F'ish. Ganges, pp. 203, 379, pl. 11. fig. 67 (type locali ty, Gangetic provinces). Local names.-Outta, Vella·i lceletee, Vazhappu keletee, Tamil; Girlu ; N ai kirle, Kanarese. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FlSltES 85

MateriaZ.-60 exs. in total: 1-8; 8-1; 19-4; 20-1; 25-1; 35-1; 36·6; 43-6; 44-3; 46-1 ; 48-1; 51-2; 52-3; 54-1 ; 64-9; 65-3; 70-3; 71-1 ; 74-3 ; 76-1 ; 86-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand.

dark spot ~ 1tH1'"~~~~~

-----max b . •

Fig. 23. Lateral view of Mystus cavasius (Hamilton). Remarks.-Most of the specimens examined have a dark spot at base of the dorsal spine. In life the fish is with a metallic blue colour along sides and golden yellow below lateral line and on ventral surface. Mystos gulio (Hamilton) 1822. Ptmeloaus gulio Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 201, 379, pI. 23; fig. 6 (type locality, higher parts of the Gangetic estuaries where the water is not very salty). LooaZ names.-Uppang keletee, Tamil. Material.-l0 exs. in total: 1-2 ; 7-1 ; 8-2 ; 9-2 ; 19-1 ~ 26-1 ;" 46-1.

ad / / /

Fig. 24. Lateral view of Myst'lls gulio (Hamilton). Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaya, Malay Archipelago in freshwaters, estua­ ries and even in seas. 86 REC. ZOOL. SURV. iNDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36 Re·marks.-It is known that in this species the occipital process may not reach the basal bone of the dorsal fin in some examples. This is the only species of j{ystus in India which is often caught in the sea, but not very far or deep.

Mystus malabaricus (Jerdon)

1849. Bagrus 'Inalabaricus Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. & Sci., 15, p. 338 (typ~ locality, l\ialabar). Lacal name.-Nil

Fig.. 25. Outline diagrams of Mystus malabaricus (Jerdon).

Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Wynaad hills, Kerala. May be found in the headwaters of Cauvery. Mystus menoda (Hamilton)

1822. Pi'lnelodus ttnenoda Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 203, 379 (type locality, Riven Kosi, l\lahananda in .North Bihar a.nd Bengal). Local name.-Nil. Material.-Two exs. in total: 72-2. Distribution.-From Orissa through W. Bengal and Assam, Cauvery and Krishna river systems. cluster of dots ~.

Fig. 26. Lateral view of Mystus menoda menoda (Hamilton).

Remarks.-Though generally confined to North India, this species has been in recent years caught from peninsillar rivers also. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 87

Mystus montanus (Jerdon)

1849. Bagrus montanus Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. & Sci, 15 {2}, p. 338 (type locality, 1\Ianantoddy river, Wynaad). LocaZ name.-Nil. Material.-Nine exs. in total: 70-9. Distribution.-Manantoddy, Wynaad ; Cauvery headwaters.

Remarks.-In life a bluish-shoulder spo~ and a dark spot at base of caudal fin prominent. Fins are tinged green, and one or two light bands along side above lateral line faintly seen. The coloration is as given by Day (1889, p. 159).

Mystus punctatus (Jerdon)

1849. Bagru8 punctatus Jerdon, Madras J. Lit. & Sci, p. 339 (type loeality, Cauvery river). Local names.-Setha keletee, Solang keletee, Tamil. Material.-2 exs. in total: 40-2.

Fig. 27. Lateral view of Mystus punctatus (Jerdon).

Distribution.-Mainly Kerala, Southern Karnataka, Nilgiri in Tamil Nadu along base of hills. Remarks.-Giant sized specimens of this species 1130-1650 mm in length and 11.0 to 58.5 kg in weight have been recorded from Tunga­ bhadra river system (Govind & Rajagopal, 1975).

Mystus vittatus (Bloch)

1797. Silurus vittatus Bloch, lchthyol Hist. Nat ... 11, p. 40, pI. 371, fig. 2 (type locality, Tranquebar, S. India).

LocaZ names.-Sonanng keletee) Nattu keletee) Kattai kelete~, Tamil~ 88 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36 Material.-89 exs. in total: 1-4; 13-2; 19·2; 22-20; 25-10; 26-5; 27-2 ; 29-1; 30-1; 32-1; 35-4 ; 36-1 ; 42-2 ; 43-2; 46·3; 47-1; 49-25; 54-1 ; 58-1 ; 86-1.

Fig. 28. Lateral view of Mystus vittatus (Bloch).

Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Burma, Thailand, Bangla­ desh and Sri Lanka.

Genus Aorichthya WU

KEY TO SPEOIES 1. Snout spatulate. Width of gape of mouth 1/Brd head length. Oaudal :fin with 19-21 rays. A. seeng kala Snout rounded. Width of gape of mouth less than t head length. Caudal fin with 17 rays ...• A. aor

Aorichtbys aor (Hamilton)

1822". Pimelodus aor Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 205, 379, pI. 20 (type locality, rivers of Bengal and upper parts of Gangetic estuaries). LocaZ names.-Poonai keletee, Neaunthalai keletee; Kamboo keletee, Tamil; Mukul gillan, Telugu. MateriaZ.-19 examples in total; 10-1 ; 20-5 ; 42-1 ; 45-1 ; 56-2 ; 59-7 ; 63-1 ; 64-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma.

Aorichthys seenghala (Sykes)

1839. Platystoma seenghala Sykes, Trans. zool. Soc. London., 2, p. 371" pl. 65, fig. 2 (type locality, l\Iutha l\Iula river at Poona). Local names .-Kuruntkala,i keletee, Tamil. Material.-one ex. in total: 10-1. Distribution.-Throughout India up to Krishna river system in the ~outh ~eneral1y, but o~currin~ in, soqther~ ~r~as al~o i~ rec~nt years~ ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 89

Family SILURIDAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Ga.pe of mouth wide, extending beyond eyes posteriorly. Wallago Ga.pe of mouth not. wide, not extending beyond eyes posteriorly. Silurus

Genus Wallago Bleeker Walla go attu (Bloch & Schneider)

1801. Silurus attu Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 378, pI. 75 (type locality, :lllalabar). Local name.-Vazhai ; Tamil; Godlay, Kanarese. M ater·ial.-One ex. in total: 90-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand.

Genus Silurus Linnaeus Silurus berdmorei wynaadensis Day

1873. Silurus 'loynaadensis Day, Froc. zool. Soc. London, p. 237 (type locality, Wynaa.d). Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Rajan (1955). Distribution.-Wynaad range of hills, Kerala. Remarks.-S. cochinchinensis (Val.) is considered as coexisting with this species in Southern India (Hora, 1942). However, S. cochinchinen­ sis is purely a species confined to the Eastern Himalaya, and Burma. Its occurrence in W. ghats requires confirmation.

Family SCHILBEIDAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Two or four barbels; nasal and one pair of mandibular barbels absent. Silonia Eight barbels. 2 2. Ca.udal fin bent downwards from caudal peduncle onwards. Teeth on palate in four small pa.tches. Proeutropiichthys Caudal fin normal, not bent downwards. Teeth on palate in two extensive patches. Pseudeutropius 12 90 REc. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36 Genus Pseudeutropius Bleeker Pseudeutropius atherinoides (Bloch)

1797. Silurus atherinoides Bloch, Naturges. ausland Fische, 8, p. 48, pI. 871, fig. 1 (type locality, Tranquebar). Locat name.-Nil. Material.-Four exs. in total: 19-3 ; 20-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, except Kerala and Assam.

Genus Proeutropiichthys Hora Proeutropiichthys taakree (Sykes)

1841. Hypophthalmus taakree Sykes, Trans. zooz. Soc. Lond, 2, p. 869, pl. 64, fig. 4 (type locality, near Pa,irgaon). Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Poona ; Krishna river in Deccan. Also the Yamuna.

Genus Silonia Swains on Silonia childreni Sykes

1841. Ageniosus childreni Sykes, Trans. zoot Soc. Lond., 2, p. 875 (type locality, Deccan). Local names.-Ponatktkee, Tamil; Wanjou), Telugu. Material.-Nine exs. in total: 12-1 ; 20-1 ; 26-1 ; 52-4 ; 60-1 ; 64-1. Distribution.-Cauvery, Krishna, Godavary river systems.

Family PANGASlIDAE Genus Pangasius Valenciennes Pangasius pangasius (HamUton)

1882. PimeZodus pangasius Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 168, 876, pl. 88 (type locality, estuaries of Bengal). Local name.-Eye keletee, Tamil. Material.-Five exs. in total: 36-1 ; 52-1 ; 60-1 ; 63-1 ; 64-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Ban~ladesh, BQrma, Thailand~ Malaya and Java. jAYARAM; CAUVERY FISHES 91

Family SISORIDAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Adhesi ve apparatus on ventral surface of body well developed. Glyptothorax Adhesi ve a ppamtus absent. Nangra

Genus Nangra Day Nangra viridescens (Hamilton)

1822. Pimelodus viridescens Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 173, 377, pl. xi, fig. 55 (type locality, Northern Bengal). Local name.-Nil. MateriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Di8tribution.-Rivers of N. Bengal, Yamuna in Delhi and also Poona in Deccan.

Genus Glyptothorax Blyth

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Paired fins plaited ventrally. G.lonak

Pa.ired fins not plaited ventrally. G. madraspatanum

Glyptotborax Jonah (Sykes)

1841. Bagrus lonah Sykes, Trans. zool. Soc. Lond., 2, p. 371 (type locality, Deccan). Local name.-Nil. MateriaZ.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Chacko et ale (1954). Distribution.-Deccan, Krishna and Godavary river systems. May be found in the headwaters of the Cauvery also.

Glyptothorax madraspatanom (Day)

1873. Glyptosternum madraspatanum Day, J. Linn. Soc. London, 11, p. 526 (type locality, Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri hills).

1954. Glllptothora~ madraspatanurn, l\ienon, Bec. Indian Mus., 52, p. 31 (diagnosis, description, list of material in ZSI). Local name.-KaZ kovitte, Kanarese. Material.-Four exs. in total: 52-3; 70-1. Distribution.-Rivers of Anamalai hills, Western Ghats, South Kerala, Tamil Nadu. 92 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

Family CLARlIDAE Genus Clarias Scopoli Clarias batracbus (Linnaeus) 1758. Silurus bat1·achus Linnaeus, Byst. Naturae, 1, 10, p. 305 (type locality, Asia and Africa). Local ,names.-Karuppu tkelee, Tamil; Hena Meen, Bali menu Kanarese. MateriaZ.-Four exs. in total: 44-1; 70-2 ; 72-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaya, Malay Archipelago, Indo-China. Philippines, Hong­ kong and South China. Family HETEROPNEUSTIDAE Genus Heteropneostes (Miiller) Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) 1797. Bilu1·us tossilis Bloch, Ichth. Hist. nat. d.,!?oiss., 11, p. 36, pI. 870, fig. 2 (type locality, Tranqueoo,r). Local names.-Thelee, Tamil; Beruvu, Bini Meen, Kanarese. Material.-Three exs. in total: 44-2; 70-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and Viet-Nam, Laos. Order ATHERINIFORMES Family BELoNlDAE Genus Xenentodon Regan Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton) 1822. Esox cancilaHamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 213, 880, pI. 27, fig. 70 (type locality, Gangetic provinces). Local names.-Mooral, VelZai M ooral, Betha M ooral, Kokku meen, Tamil. Material.-64 exs. in total; 6-3; 8-1; 11-2; 18-3; 21-19; 25-3; 26-3 ; 36-3 ; 39-4 ; 44-2 ; 45-4 ; 47-1 ; 49-7 ; 58-3 ; 63-6.

Fig. 29. Lateral view of Xenentodon cancila (Ham.) Distribution.-Freshwaters of Sind, Punjab in Pakistan. Throughout India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka besides Burma, Thailand and Malaya. JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 93

Family CYPRINODONTlDAE

KEY TO GENERA

1. Anal:fin with 10-18 rays. Pectoral fins placed below or in level with angle of opercu! um. . .. Aplocheilus Ana.l fin with 20-24 rays. Pectoral fins placed a.bove angle of operculum. Oryzias Genus Aplocbeilus McClelland = Haplocbeilus

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Pelvic fin without any prolonged ray. .A. panchax Pelvic fin rays prolonged. .A. lineatus Aplocbeilos lineatus (Valenciennes)

1846. Panchax lineatum Valencienn~s,. Hist. Nat. Poiss., 18, p. 381 (type locality" Bombay). Local name.-lJfunaa Kanni, Tamil. Material.-23 exs. in total: 81-23.

Fig. 30. Lateral view of .Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes).

Distribution.-Coorg, Wynaad, Nilgiri. Sri Lanka., Remarks.-All examples have the pelvic fin rays produced. In life each scale has a dark spot.

Aplocbeilus panchax (Hamilton) 1822. Esox :panchax Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 211, 380, pl. 3, fig. 69 (type locality" ditches and ponds of Bengal). Local name.-Nil.

Fig. 31, Lateral view of Aplocheilus panchax {Hamilton}. 94 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36 Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Orissa, W. Bengal, Andamans. Pakistan. Bangladesh. Sri Lanka. Widely introduced and transported to other parts.

Genus Oryzias Jordan & Snyder Oryzias melanostigma (McClelland)

1839. Aplooheilus melastigma l\IcOlelland, .A.siat. Res. 19, Indian Oyprinidae, pp. 301, 427, pl. 42, fig. 3 (type locality, tanks at Oalcutta). Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1942). Distribution.-Wynaad, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Lower Bengal. Burma.

Family POECILIDAE Genus Gambusia Poey Gambusia affinis patroelis (Baird and Girard)

1853. Heterandia patruelis Baird & Girard, Proo. Aoad. nat. Sot. Philad. 6, p. 390 (type locality, Rio Sabinal, Texas). Local name.-Nil. Material.-17 exs. in total: 86-5 ; 88-12. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan. Bangladesh. Sri Lanka. Burma. Introduced for larvicidal use.

Fig. 32. Lateral views of a. male and h. female of Gambusia affinis patrueZi8 (Baird and Girard). ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 95

Order CHANNIFORMES

Family CHANNIDAE Genus Channa Scopoli

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Four or five scales between orbit and angle of preopercle. 12 or 13 predorsal scales. 2 Nine to 17 scales between orbit and angle of preopercle. 15-22 predorsal scales. 3 2. Pelvic fin less than half length of pectoral fin. Pectoral fins spotted. a. orientalis Pel vic fin more than half length of pectoral fin. Pectoral fin plain. O. punctatus S. 18-20 predorsal scales. Lateral line with peninsula of the darker colonr extending into tho yellow. O. striatus 15-16 predorsal scales. No such colour mar­ kings on lateral line. 4 4. A black white-edged ocellus on basal portion of caudal fI n. O. maruZius No such ocellus. a. leucopunctatus

Channa leucopuDctatos (Sykes)

1841. OphicephaZus Zeucopunctatus Sykes, Trans. zool. Soc. London, 2, p. 352, pl. 60, fig. 3 (type locality, Deccan). Local name.-Nil. Material.-One ex. in total: 70-1. Distribution.-Coromandel and Western Coast of India in rivers. Remarks.-The solitary example collected from Hole Narsipura (7.5.77) has no ocellus on the caudal fin. The eye is 6 times in head length, one diameter from end of snout and 1.25 in interorbital space width. The body is coloured cement grey without any descending bars with very few white spots.

Channa maruUos (Hamilton)

1822. OphiocephaZus marulius Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 65, 867, pI. 17. fig. 19 (type locality, the Ganges). Local names.-Purveral, Goaree veral, Avuree, Tamil. MateriaZ.-Seven exmples in total: 64-1 ; 70-6. 96 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, China.

Fig. 33. Lateral view of Ohanna marulius (Hamilton). Remarks.-Five examples from Stn. 70, Hole Narsipura, were chocolate coloured when fresh with the white streak on body prominent. The ocellus on upper caudal lobe is very conspicuous.

Channa orientalis (Schneider) 1801. Ohanna orientalis Schneider, Syst. Ichth. Bloch., p. 496, pl. 90, fig. 2. 1822. Ophiocephalus gachua Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 68, 367, pl. 21, fig. 21 (type locality, ponds and ditches of Bengal). Local name.-Karuva, Tamil. Mater'ial.-21 exs. in total: 5-1 ; 8-1 ; 19-1 ; 26-2 ; 29-1; 32-1 ; 34-5 ; 35-1 ; 37-1 ; 4~-1 ; 44-3 ; 46-1 ; 47-2. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Afganistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Malaya, Malay Archipelago, Yunnan, Viet-Nam, Laos, Hainan.

Chan,n,a punctatus (Bloch) 1793. Opihiocephalus punctatus Bloch, Naturges. Ausland. Fisches, 2, p. 139, pI. 358 (type locality, Coromandal coast). Local names.-Paralcoravai, Koravai, Tamil, Odili Meen, Kanarese. Material.-54 exs. in total: 5-1 ; 6-3 ; 7-7 ; 8-1; 13-1_; 19-4 ; 25-10 ; 26-12 ; 27-5 ; 29-2 ; 32-2 ; 34-1 ; 37-1 ; 44-1 ; 47-1 ; 49-2.

Fig. 34. Lateral view of Ohanna punctatus (Bloch).

Distribution.-Throughout India~ Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka. ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 97

Channa striatos (Bloch)

1798. Ophiocephalus striatus Bloch, Naturg. Ausland. Fisches, 2, pI. 141, pl. 359 (type locality, !\1:alabar). Local names.-Viral, Wrahl, Tamil. Material.-20 exs. in total; 7·1; 8-1; 19-1; 20-2; 34-12; 40 .. 1 ; 41-1 ; 49-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri" Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Malaya, Malay Archipelago, S. China, and Philippines,

Order PERCIFORMES

Family CHANDIDAE Genus Chanda Hamilton

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Latemlline indistinct, discontinuous or absent. A dark blotch on dorsal fin's upper edge. O. nama Lateral line distinct. No such colour blotch, on dorsal fin. .. , O. rango,

Chanda nama Hamilton

1822. Ohanda nama Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 109, 371, pI. 39, fig. 37 (type locality Bengal). LocaZ name.-Kakkachee, Tamil.

Fig. 85. Lateral view of Ohanda nama Hamilton.

MateriaZ.-Three exs. in total: 20-3. Distribution.:-Throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma. 18 98 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPERNo. 36 Chanda ranga Hamilton

1822. Ohanda ranga Hamilton~ Fish Ganges, pp. 113; 371, pl. 16. fig. 38 (type locality, Ganges provinces). Local name.-Kannadi meen, Tamil. Material.-Five exs. in total: 9-5. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand.

Family CICHLIDAE KEY TO GENERA 1. Anal fin with 3 or- 4 spines. Tilapia Anal fin with 12 to 16 spines Etroplus

Genus Etroplus euvier

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Body with one to three dark blotches along sides. E. maculatus Body with transverse bands. E. suratensis

Etroplus maculatus (Bloch)

1785. Ohaetodon maculatus Blooh, Syst. Ichth., pl. 427, fig. 2 (type locality, not given). Local names.-Sella kasu, Puradi, Tamil. Material.-160 exs. in total: 5-1; 6-1; 8-3; 10-1; 12-3; 20-5 ; 22-32; 25-3; 26-3; 27-1; 28 .. 3; 32-1; 35-4 ; 39-1 ; 40-1 ; 42-1 ; 44-7 ; 46·5 ; 47-2 ; 48-1 ; 49-2 ; 54-1 ; 55-9 ; 56-7; 57-3; 58-2; 61-12; 62-19 ; 63-26.

Fig. 36. Lateral view of Etroplu8 maculatus (Bloch).

D~tribution.-Tamil Nadu1 Kerala, S. Kanara~ Sri Lanka. ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 99

Etroplus suratensis (Bloch)

1768. Ohaetodon suratensis Bloch, Byst. Ichth., pl. 217 (type locality, Burat). Local name.-Seththa kendai, Tamil. Material.-· 21 exs. in total: 10-1; 48-1; 52-1; 58-1; 60-1; 61-1 ; 62-13 ; 63-2.

Fig. 37. Lateral view of Etroplus sU'ratensis (Bloch).

Distribution.-Peninsular India from Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Kama­ taka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Sri Lanka.

Genus Tilapia A. Smith Tilapia mossambica (Peters)

1852. Chromis mossambious Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss" Berlin, p. 681 (type locality, Zambesi river, S. Africa). 1952. TiZapia mossambica, Jones & Sarojini, J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 50 (3) : 606. Local names •..:...Tilapia, Jilebi Meen, Tamil. MateriaZ.-130 exs. in total: 11-2; 18-2; 20-1; 35-17 ; 44-1 ; 46-1 ; 47-4 ; 48-1 ; 52-1 ; 53-1 ; 54-3 ; 55-2; 56-78; 57-1; 59-1; 60-1; 62-8; 63-4 ; 67-1. Distribution.-East Africa to Natal, widely introduced in India and Pakistan. Remarls.-Certain meristic counts obtained in a sample from Cauvery river at Bhavani are given 'in the next page. 100 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Occ. PAPER No. 36

Sl. No. T. L. D .A. L. Bcales

1. 92 XV1+11 111+10 81 2. 90 XV1+12 111+10 30 8. 83 XV +11 111+10 80 4. 90 XV+11 111+10 30 5. 85 XV +12 111+10 81 6. 80 XV +11 111+10 80 7. 88 XV1+11 111+10 SO 8. 75 XV +11 111+10 31 9. 72 XV +11 111+10 30 10. 60 XV +11 111+10 30 Tail broken 1I. 55 XV +11 111+10 31 12. 42 XV +11 III + 10 30 13. 42 XV +11 111+10 30 14. 48 XV +11 111+10 30 15. 40 XV +11 111+10 30 16. 44 XV +11 TI1+10 30 17. 39 XV +11 111+10 30 18. 40 XV +11 111+10 30 19. 40 XV +11 111+10 30 20. 45 XV1+12 Ill+10 SO

Family MUGILIDAB

KEY TO GENERA

1. Upper Iip not forming anterior border of head but inferior to a fleshy snout. Rhinomugil (B. corsuZa) Upper lip forming anterior border of bed, not inferior to snout. Liza

Genus Liza Jordan & Swain

KEY TO BPE01ES 1. Anterior i of anal .fin before origin of second dorsal fin. Anterior 1/3 of anal fin before origin of second dorsal fin. L. ta,d,s

Liza \rlamilton)

1822. MugiZ :parma Hamilton, Fish. Ganges, pp. 215, 880, pl. 17, fig. 71 (type locality, freshwater rivers of Bengal). LooaZ name.-Maila'IJai, Tamil. JAYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 101

Material.-One ex. in total: 36-1. Di8tribution.-India : Coasts of Maharashtra, Kerala and West Bengal. Pakistan. Bangladesh. Burma. Sri Lanka. Often caught from estuaries.

Fig. 38. Lateral view of Liza parsia (Hamilton).

Liza tade (Forskal)

1775. MugiZ tade ~orskal, Descripl. , p. 74 (type locality, Arabian Sea). LocaZ name.-Nil. Material.-Two exs. in total: 20-2. . Distribution.-India : Coasts of Orissa, W. Bengal, Andaman. Pakis- tan. Burma. Sri Lanka. Often enters tidal rivers and estuaries. Remarks.-This is the first record from the Cauvery system. Genus Rhinomugil Gill Rhinomugil corsula (Ham.)

1822. MugtZ corsula Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 221, 381, pl. 8, fig. 97 (type locality, rivers of Gangetic provinces, in southern parts of Bengal). LocaZ name8.-Muzhugu Meen, Tamil: Town BU8, Rocket, English.

Fig. 39. Lateral view of Rhinomz!Ytf: ~rsuZa (Hamilton). Material.-27 exs. in total: 7-3 ; 19-1 ; 20-2 ; 36-2 ; 43-1 ; 48-2 ; 58-2 ; 59-1 ; 63-1 ; 64-12. Di8tribution.-India: Gangetic province and southern parts of Bengal, Chilka lake; Krishnagiri and Sathannur reservoir across Ponniar. 102 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No .. 36 Recorded from the Cauvery system for the first time by Menon & J ayaram, 1977. Remarks.-Reference may be made to Menon & Jayaram, 1977 for a description of the species and other details.

Family GOBIlDAE KEY TO GENERA 1. Some fleshy flaps on inner edge of pectoral girdle present. Awaous No such fleshy fIa ps on inner edge of pectoral girdle present. ...• Glosso~obiua

Genus Awaous (Val.) Awaous stamineus (Val.) 1842. Bobius stamineus Valenciennes, Zool. Voy. Bonite, p. 179, pI. 51, fig. 5 (type locaH ty, Sandwich Islands.) 1876. Gobius striatus Day, Fish India, p. 292, pl. 62, fig. 6. 1941. Awaous stamineus, Koumans, Mem. Indian Mus., 13, p. 252 (see for synonymy). Local name.-Nil. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Chacko et aZ (1954). Distribution.-India, Philippines, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Hawaii. Enters freshwaters. Remarks.-Day's specimen was from Madras, and the Madras Connemara Museum has an example from Travancore.

Genus GJossogobius Gill GJossogobius giuris giuris (Ham.) 1822. Gobius giuris Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 51, 366, pI. 33, fig. 15 (type locality, ponds and freshwater rivers of Gangetic provinces). Local names.-Uluvai, Tamil; Bengichitha, Jokala, Kanarese.

Fig. 40. Lateral view of G~ssogobius giuris giuris(Ham.) ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 103-

Material.-83 exs. in total: 5-1; 6-5 ; 8-1 ; 10-1 ; 13-1 ; 14-1 ; 15-1 ; 20-3; 24-4; 25-2; 26-7; 29-3; 30-1; 31-1; 32-1 ; 33-3 ; 35-3 ; 36-2 ; 38-2 ; 40-3; 41-1; 42-1 : 43-1; 44-2; 48-1; 49-1 ; 52-1; 57-1; 61-1; 62-3 ; 63-11 ; 70-1 ; 71-1 ; 73-1 ; 78-3 ; 79-6 ; 82-1. Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka. This species has a wide range from the East coast of' Africa to Japan, Australia and S. Pacific.

Family ANABANTIDAE Genus Anabas Cuvier Anabas testudineus (Bloch)

1792. Anabas testudineus Bloch, Naturg. Ausland. Fisches, 6, p. 121" pI. 322 (type local i ty ,Japan, East In dies). Local names.-Panai yeri kendai, Tamil. Material.-13 exs. in total: 5.. 3 ; 7-2 ; 19-1 ; 24-2 ; 44-5.

Fig. 41. Lateral view of Anabas testudineu,s (Bloch)

Di8iribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malaya, Malay Archipelago, Viet-Nam, Laos, China, Philippines, Polynesia.

Family BELONTIDA'B Genus Macropodus Lacepede Macropodus cupanus (Valenciennes)

1881. Macropodus cupanus Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 7, p. 357 (type-locality, Ariancoopam river, Pondicherry). Local name.-Moran kendai, Tamil. .Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Hora (1937). Distribution.-Bhavani river and rivers at base of Nilgiri, S. Kanara hUls. Also in Coromandal coasts. 104 REe. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oee. PAPER No. 36

Family OSPHRONEMIDAE Genus Osphronemus Lecepede Ospbronemus goramy Lacepede 1802. Osphrone1nus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 3, p. 116 (type-locality, OS1h'fonemU8 gouramy Lacepede) Local name.-Gouramy, Tamil, Kanarase.

Fig. 42. Lateral view of O.~phrone1nus gO'famy Lacepede. Material.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Chacko et al. (1954). Distribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. An exotic species from Melanesia- Order MASTACEMBELIFORMES Family MASTACEMBELIDAE KEY TO GENERA 1. Snout very long, with a concave prolongation of the upper jaw consisting of a paired series of toothed bony plates Macrognathua Snout long, conical without any prolongation of the upper jaw. MastacembeZus

Genus Macrognathus Lacepede Macrognathus aculeatus (Bloch) 1787. Ophiilium acuZeatum Bloch, IchthyoZogie, 5, p. 60, pI. 159, fig. 2 (type locality, East Indies). ~ocal names.-Aral, Tamil i BOfnmiday, Telugu. }AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 105

Material.-18 exs. in total: 8-2; 26-1 ; 38-2 ; 43-1 ; 78-12. Diatribution.-Throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malay Archipelago, Laos, Viet-Nam, China.

Fig. 43. J.... a teral view of Macrognathu8 aculeatus (Bloch).

Remarlca.-The number of dorsal spines, anal fin rays and ocelli at the base of the caudal fin is subject to much variation. In the material examined some have only one ocelli at base of caudal and a few have no ocelli at all. Generally the ocelli is bright in specimens freshly caught but fade slightly on preservation. Maximum size attained is 45 cm. (18 incJ1es), caught from stn. 8. River Cauvery at Mayurum Town (18. 3. 73) was donated to the fishermen. Misra (1962) gave Bloch's Naturgesckichte de auslandischer Fiache (1795) as the first reference to the species, overlooking that Bloch had described this species in 1787 itself. The specific name should be correctly spelt as aculeatu8 in conforrnity with M acrognathu8. Genus Mastacembelus ·Scopoli KEY TO SPECIES 1. Caudal fin with 11-16 rays. M. pancalus Caudal fin with 17-21 rays. ·M. armatus armatus

Mastacembelus armatus armatus (Lacepede) 1800. Macrognathu8 armatu8 La.cepede, Hist. nat. Po iss. , 2, pp. 283, 286 (type locality, not given). LocaZ name8.-AaraaZ, Kalaaral, Tamil.

Fig. 44. Lateral view of Mastacembelus armatus armatus (L9,cepede).

MateriaZ.~66 exs. in total: 5-2; 6-15; 8-8; 22-1; 25-1 ; 26-10; 35-1 ; 37-1 ; 39-1 ; 40-1 ; 43-1 ;. 48-4; 49-2; 52-4; 54-1; 56-2; 59-1; 62-3 ; 63-1 ; 64-1 ; 70-1 ; 73-1 ; 84-2 ; 90-1. l4: 106 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

Distribution.-Widely distributed throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma and ThaJland. Remarks.-A number of varieties have been mentioned by Day (1878) based on colour spots, distance from eye to base of first dorsal spine etc. A random examination of 14 examples from stn. 6. River Vikraman near Tiruvalangadu, showed the following data which justifies that M. armatu8 armatus is a highly variable species. Probably an analysis of samples from all over its range of distribution may indicate presence off different geographical sub-species.

SI. Total No. of Cs, udal fin shape No. of Distance No. length dorsal biack eye to spines spots. base of I dorsal spine

I. 150mm 35 Round 20 18mm 2. 160mm 36 Round 19 18mm 3. 163mm 36 Round 19 20mm 4. 178mm 36 Round 16 20mm 5. 180mm 33 Round 18 20mm 6. 180mm 34 Round 22 16mm 7. 190mm 37 Round 18 22mm 8. 200mm 37 Round 22 22mm 9. 218 mm 36 Round 20 26mm 10. 220mm 34 Round 22 29mm II. 236 mm 37 Round 16 22mm 12. 254 mm 36 Round 23 30mm 13. 265mm 37 Round 23 30mm 14. 290mm 38 Round 22 30mm

Mastacembelus pancalus (Hamilton)

1822. Macrognathus pancaZus Hamilton, Fish Ganges, pp. 30, 364 (type-locality, tanks of the Gangetic provinces). Local name.-Aaraal, Tamil.

Mate1·ial.-No specimen obtained by us. Recorded by Chacko et al. (1952). Distribution. - Throughout India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. ]AYARAM: CAUVERY FISHES 107

DISCUSSION Hora (1937) reporting on the collection of fishes made by the late Prof. C. R. Narayan Rao from the Cauvery river in Coorg listed 54 species. Later in 1942 he elaborated the same to include the piscine fauna in the neighbouring hill ranges of the Nilgiris, Wynaad and cited 121 species in total. More recently Chacko et ale (1954) published a list of 80 species under 23 families from a survey of the fisheries of the Cauvery rive~. Sreenivasan (1980) made a limnological survey of the river in Tamil Nadu, but has not given a detailed list of the inhabi.. ting fish. As a result of our investigations, a total of 142 species are now known to inhabit the entire Cauvery river system within Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The fish fauna presents an interesting distribution. ZONATION OF THE RIVER: Division of a river into distinct biological zones, each with a characteristic fish fauna, has been adopted by many workers. Huet (1959) divided the European streams into four zones based on fish distribution. Besides the aquatic fauna which live in a river stretch the physiographical features, nature of bottom, gradient, current velocity are all utilised in classifying a river course. Raj (1941) studied the Cauvery system and discussed the effects of the Mettur dam on the fish fauna. Adopting the above criteria the Cauvery river is divisible into three broad zones as below; 1. Mountainous course.-The stretch of the river from its origin up to Sivasamudram (Stations 65-85). 2. Plateau course.-Sivasamudram up to Hogenaikal (Stations 86-90). 3. Plains (!ourse.-From Hogenaikal to its confluence with the Bay of Bengal at Kaveripattinam (Stations 1-64). Each one of these zones is characterised by attendant geological features. In the mountai~ous course the river flows through steep gradients in narrow channels over rocky and boulderous beds. The plateau course has less step gradient with a pebbly bottom. The plains co~rse enables the river to meander through broad deltaic areas gather­ ing- silt and sand till it joins the sea. The Cauvery system has, as mentioned earlier, 142 species of fish under 27 families as its component. A broad analysis of the fauna indicates clearly that each zone has its own peculiar fauna. For instance, out of 142 species over 60% is represented in the plains course and the mountainous course has the minimum number of species and that too mostly of uneconomical varieties. This pattern of distribution has 108 REc. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oee. PAPER No. 36 been elaborated in an earlier paper (Jayaram, 1982), however causes for such distribution and their effect on the fishery economy are dis­ cussed below. CAUSATIVE FACTORS.-In common with most river systems, the head waters and upper reaches of the Cauvery also has an impoverished fauna. It is generally conceded that the main reasons for such a deficiency are : (i) Presence of waterfalls of sufficient magnitude to impede upstream movements of colonisers. (ii) Reduction of water temperature. (iii) Reduction or sudden reduction of water level during the dry season or draught. (iv) Excessive turbidity and streambed scouring. In respect of the Cauvery river system, it is seen that each one of the factors either individually or collectively has contributed to the present faunal pattern. The Sivasamudram falls with a drop of 85 meters act as a formidable barrier for many economically valuable species such as Puntiu8 koZus, Puntiu8 carnaticus, Aorichthys 8eenghala, Silonia childreni, MYStU8 menoda and others from colonising the upper reaches which are otherwise present in the areas below the Shiva falls. Though Hogenaikal falls with a drop of 18 meters are also a barrier for movement of fishes fronl the plains course to the plateau course, the height of these falls has been reduced by the formation of the Mettur reservoir whose water spread reaches this area more particularly during the rainy season. Catla, the Carnatic carp (P. carnaticU8), Tor khudree, Labeo bata, Labeo pangusia and a few others appear to have colonised the plateau course in this manner only. Records of water temperature in the month of October 1975 at Bhagamandala were 21.5°C at Kudige 22°C, whereas at Maddur it was 26°C and at Najankud 24°C only. The air temperature at Mercara in January, February 1974 was 13.8-25.1°C and lS.2-27.5°C respectively. Details of some relevant metereological data obtained from the Indian Metereological office for four stations are given in Table--I. Cold water species such as Bariliu8, the Black Mahseer, Tor khuaree the homalopterid Batitora, loaches of the genus Noemacheilu8, and catfishes of the genus Glyptothorax have however been recorded from this mountainous course. Cool waters of these areas may be one of the contributary factors for the colonization of these fishes. Jhingran & Sehgal (1978) have stated that the temperature tolerance of cold water fishes lies at lower levels of the thermal scale and they have shown that JAYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 109 that a range of 22.2 to 30.2°C would be ideal for such fishes, which fact seems to be borne out by the presence of these fishes. The water discharge in the upper reaches depend' much on the rainfall in the catchment area and this is evidenced by the pattern of occurrence of certain species only during the post and premonsoon periods. The pattern as evIdenced by the percentage of number of examples to the total collected by us for certain species is as below : Species Premonsoon period Postmonsoon period in percent in percent Salmostoma untrahi 73.5 26.5 Esomus barbatus 63.6 36.4 Dania aequipinnatu8 65.2 34.8 Puntius amphibius 36.2 63.8 P. ehola 31.1 68.9 p. dorsalis 39.1 60.9 p. fllamentosu8 27.3 72.7 p. 8arana sarana 35.8 64.2 p. stigma 22.2 77.8 Oirrihinus reba 46.9 53.1 Labeo ealbasu 65.2 34.8 L. kontius 93.0 7.0 Rasbora caverii 67.4 32.6 LepidoeepkaUchthys tkermalis 99.2 0.8 Ompok bimaculatu8 74.4 25.6 M ystus vittatus 23.3 '76.7 Mystus cavasius 59.5 40.5 Xenentodon eancila 13.1 86.9 Ohanna gachua 42.8 57.2 O. punctatus 24.5 75.5 O. striatus 20.0 80.0 Etroplu8 maculatus 35.2 64.8 Tilapia m08sambica 81.3 18.7 From the above analysis certain facts emerge clearly. The puntius species or the carps of economic value are dominant only during the postmonsoon period, like that of the murrels and pearl spots. On the other hand the smaller Daniids, Chilwas, and barbs like Esomus and Lepidocephalichthys etc. seem to be prevalent during the premonsoon period. This supports the view that heavy water discharge and flow are favourable to the major carps and these are replaced by the smaller varieties and catfishes during the summer. Von Urk 1978 has shown that during periods of low discharges a "replacement community" to 110 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36 exploit the organic load of the river appears. Such a phenomenon seems to be prevalent in the Cauvery system also. Turbidity in general decreases light penetration, limits production of phyto plankton thereby depleting the source of food for the fish communities. However, this does not appear to be a cause in the Cauvery system especially in its upper reaches. This may be because of the steep incline and the swift run off of the water column. However in the plateau course, especially below Shiva, at places like Kol1egal and Chikalur, the yield was poor during the post monsoon survey which may perhape be attributed to the high turbidity. Likewise at Bhavani and Erode where the stream bed is heavily eroded with boulders and rocks the catches were of uneconomical variety and poor in quantity.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS From a survey of the Cauvery river undertaken during both the post-and premonsoon periods the following conclusions are drawn :- (1) A total of 142 species of fish are recorded as occurring in the river. A few Inore may be found if some of the inaccessible areas especially in the plateau course could also be covered. (2) The river is divisible into three zones: mountainous course extending from its origin to the Sivasamudram falls; plateau course from Sivasamudram to Hogenaikal, and the plains course from Hogenaikal to confluence with the Bay of Bengal. (3) Each one of the above cited three zones have their own chara­ cteristic fauna in conformity with their attendant ecological features. (4) The Shivasamudram falls act as a considerable barrier for the dispersal and colonisation of economical varieties of fish to the upper reaches. (5) Considering the fauna present in the mountainous course, introduction of cold water fishes such as trouts (Salmo trutta) may be thought of. The first records of Esomus danricu8, Puntius melanostigma and N oemacheilu8 8triatu8 in this zone are noteworthy. (6) Some selected economically valuable fishes such as the carps, or catfishes could be artificially introduced in: the upper reaches. (7) The plateau course is a potential area for conservation and regulated exploitation. TABLE 1. :Meteorological data as obtained from the India Meteorological Department.

1973 1974 1975

JAN.~ FEB., MAR., APR.~ SEPT., OCT. JAN., FEB., MAR.~ APR., SEPT., OCT. JAN., FEB., MAR., APR., SEPT., OCT.

(i) Temp Mean} 30.2 29.9 25.1 27.5 °0 Max. -< ~ -< Mean 1 17.1 19.2 13.8 15.2 ~ Minim. j r;iI ~ (ii) Rainfall Total (mm). 0.0 27.9 0.0 0.0 (iii) Relative 08.30 58 74 68 60 Mean Humidity 17.30 46 65 36 29 percent

(i) Temp. Mean} 34.2 34.2 28.9 31.3 °0 Max.

r;iI Mean o~ 19.3 22.0 14.8 16.3 CD. Minim. >t ~ (ii) Rainfall Total (mm.) 0.0 155.3 0.0 0.0 (iii) Rela.tive 08.30 69 77 73 57 Mean Humidity 17.30 41 42 35 18 precent

Temp. Mean (i) ~ 37.1 37.9 32.1 35.0 32.4 31.9 °0 Max.) ~ -< A ~ Mean } 23.2 26.7 18.9 19.5 23.3 23.0 P Minim. t:..\ ~ (ii) Rainfall Total (mm.) 12.2 49.8 0.0 0.0 153.6 297.7 ~ (iii) Relative 08.30 56 60 69 58 75 76 Mean Humidity 17.30 23 34 31 23 65 67 percent

(i) Temp. mean t 35.8 37.7 29.3 31.5 32.7 31.4 H °0 !\1:ax·5 ...:l ~ :Mean } 23.8 26.8 18.8 19.5 24.3 23.8

(8) Gene pools of selected species may be located ar... d conserved in the plateau course. (9) Some of the tributaries such as Kabbani, Hemavathy are rich in fishlife and require careful management. (10) Suitable sanctuaries similar to one in Ramanathapura could be located and established in the plateau course. The absence of P'ltntius dubius in the lower reaches is worth attention. (11) Oirrhina reba has replaced a number of economically valuable species, by their abundacne in the plains course. (12) Suitable fish sanctuaries should be located and established in the plains course also. (13) Regulation of stream courses for colonisation of marketable sized varieties of fishes could be attempted in the plains course. (14) The distributional range of the following species are extended for the first time from the areas specified.- (i) Esomus barbatus (Jerdon)-Zone-III (ii) Esomus danricus (Hamilton)-Zone-I (iii) Barili·us vagra vagra (Hamilton)-Zone-l (iv) Puntius conchonius (Hamilton)-Throughout

(v) Puntius melanosligma (Day)~Zone-I (vi) Noemacheilus striatus Day-Zone-I (vii) Liza tade (Forskal)-Zone-III (viii) Rhinomugil corsula (Ham.)-Zone-III (15) A new species Puntius coorgensis Jayaram was also found, from the plateau course. (16) Topotypes of Rasbora caverii, Puntius bovanicus, and Puntius cauveriensis have been collected. (17) The range of variations in body proportions, meristic counts, colour (both in life and after pre~ervation) have been recorded for a number of species previously known with scanty data. (18) The doubtful occurrence of Salmostoma boopsis from Mysore has now been cleared by Collection of material from Chikalur, Karnataka. 112 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCc. PAPER No. 36

REFERENCES CHACKO, P. I., KURIYAN. G. K. AND THYAGARAJAN, S. 1954. A survey of the fisheries the Cauvery river. Gontr. Freshw. Fish. Biol. Stn., JJI a dras, 12 : 1-19. CHAUDHURI, B. L. 1916. Fauna of the Chilka Lake. Mem. Indian Mus~, 5, Fish (part 1) : 405-439. DAY, F. 1875-78. The fishes of India; being a natural history of the fishes known to inhabit the seas and fresh waters of India, Burma and Ceylon. Text and atlas in 4 parts, London, xx, p. 778, 195 pIs. DAY F. 1889. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and- Burnla. Fishes, 1., 548 pp., 2 : 509 pp.-London, Taylor and Francis. DEVANESAN, D. W. 1942. Weirs in South India and their effect on the bionomics of the hilsa in the South Indian rivers-The Godavari, the Krishna and the Cauvery. Ourr. Sci., 11 (10) : 398. GOVIND, B. V. AND RAJAGOPAL, K. V. 1975. Occurrence of a giant M ystns species in the Krishna river system, S. India. M atsya, 1 : 79-80. HAMILTON, F. 1822. An accouut of the fishes found in the river Ganges and, its branches. viii + 405, 39 pis., Edinburgh & London. HORA, S. L. 1936. ~otes on fishes in the Indian Museum XXVI. On a small collection of fish from the Chitaldurg district, M ysore. Rec. Indian Mus., 38 (1) : 1-7. HORA, S. L. 1937. Notes on fishes in the Indian Museum. XXVIII. On three collections of fish from Mysore and Coorg, South India. Ree. Indian Mus., 39 (1) : 5-28. HORA. S. L. 1939. The game fishes of India. VIII. The Mahseers or the large-scaled Barbels of India. 1. The putitor Mahseer, Barbus (Tor) putit01'a (Hamilton). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 41 (2): 272-285, 1 pI. HORA, S. L. 1940. On a collection of fish from the headwaters of the Mahanadi river, Raipur district, C. P. Rec. Indian Mus., 42 (2) : 365-374. HORA, S. L. 1940. The game fishes of India. IX •. The Mahseers or the large-scaled Barbels of India. 2. The Tor Mahseer, Barbus (Tor) tor (Hamilton). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 41 (3) ; 511-525, 3 pis. HORA, S. L. 1940. The game fishes of India. X. The Mahseers or the large-scaled Barbels of India. 3. The Mosal mahseer Barbus (Tor) mosal (Hamilton). J. Bombay nat, Hist, Soc., 41 (3), : 784-794, 3 pIs. ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 113

HORA, S. L. 1941. The game fishes of India. XIV. The Mahseers or the large-scaled Barbels of India. 7. The black Mahseer with notes on other colour varieties. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 42.(4) : 803-815, 3 pIs. HORA, S. L. 1941. Homalopterid fishes from Peninsular India. Bec. Indian Mus., 43 (2) : 221-232, 1 pI. HORA, S. L. 1942. A list of fishes of the Mysore State and of the neighbouring hill ranges of the Nilgiris, Wynaad and Coorg. Rec. Indian Mus., 44 (2) : 193-200. HORA, S. L. 1942. The game fishes of India. XV. The Mahseers or the large-scaled Barbels of India. 8. On the specific identity of Sykes's species of Barbus from the Deccan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 43 (2), : 163-169, 2 pIs. HORA, S. L. 1943. The game fishes of India. XVI. The Mahseers of the large-scaled Barbels of India. 9. Further observations on Mahseers from the Deccan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 44 (1) : 1-8, 1 pl. HORA, S. L. 1943. The game fishes of India. XVII. The Mahseers or the large-scaled Barbels of India. 10. On the specific identity of Jerdon's species of Mahseer from Southern India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 44 (2) : 164-168, 1 pI. HORA S. L. AND LAW, N. C. 1941. The freshwater fish of Travancore. Rec. Indian 1J;!us., 43 (2) : 233-256, 1 pI. HORA, S. L. AND MISRA, K. S. 1942. Fish of Poona, Part II. J. Bombay nat. Soc.) 43 (2) : 218-215. HORA, S. L. AND MISRA, K. S. AND MALIK, O. M. 1939. A study of variations in Barbus (Puntius) ticto (Hamilton). Rec. Indian Mus., 41 (3) : 263-279. HORA, S. L. AND MUKERJI, D. D. 1928. Notes on fishes in the Indian Museum. XVI. On fishes of the genus Esomus Swainson. Rec. Indian Mus., 30 (1) : 41-56. HORA, S. L. AND MUKERJI, D. D. 1934. Notes on fishes in the Indian Museum. XXII. On a collection of fish from the S. Shan States and the Pegu Yomas, Burma. Rec. Indian Mus., 36 (1) : 123-138. HORA, S. L. AND NAIR, K. K. 1941. Fishes of the Satpura Range, Hoshangabad district, Central provinces. Reo. Indian Mus., 43 (3) : 361-373.

HUET, M. 1959. Profiles and biology of West European streams as related to fish management. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 88 : 155-163. 16 114 REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

] AYARAM, K. C., INDRA, MRS. T. J. AND SUNDER SINGH, M • .1976. On a collection of fish from the , South India. Madras J. Fisk., 7 : 1-7. ]AYARAM, K. C. 1982. On a new species of the genus Puntiu8 (Pisces, Cyprinidae) from the Cauvery river, Karnataka state, S. India. Ma tsya , 7 : 47·49. JAYARAM, K. C. 1982. The Cauvery river ecosystem and the patterns of its fish distribution. BUll. zooZ. Surv. India, 4 (3) : 289-294. ]HINGRAN, V. G. AND SEHGAL, K. L. 1978. Goldwater fisheries of India: x+ 239+ ix, Barrackpur (Inland fisheries Society of India). MENON, A. O. K. 1951. Further studies regarding Hora's Satpura hypothesis. The role of the eastern ghats in the distribution of the Malayan fauna and flora to peninsular India. Proc. nat. Inst. Sci. India, 17 (6) : 475-497. MENON, A. G. K. 1954. Notes on Malayan fishes in the collection of Raffles Museum, Singapore. Bull. Raffles Mus., No. 25 : 5-26. MENON, A. O. K. 1963. Subspecies of the Cyprinid fish Puntius sarana (Ham.) with the description of p. s. spiluru8 (Gunther) from Ceylon. Spol. Zeylanica, 40 (1) : 65-70.

MENON, A. O. K. 1964. Monograph of the Cyprinid fishes of the genus Garra Hamilton. Mem. Indian Mus., 14 (4) : 173-260, 13 pIs. MENON, A. O. K., OOVIND, B. V. AND RAJAGOPAL, K.V. 1977. Taxonomic assessment of the torrential fish of the genus Balitora Gray (Family Homalopteridae) from the Indian peninsula. Matsya, 3 : 31-34. MENON, A. O. K. AND JAYARAM, K. C. 1977. The freshwater grey mullet Rkinomugil corsula (Hamilton) as a fishery resource in the Cauvery river system, S. India. Sci. Gult., 43 (7) : 302-304. MISRA, K. S. 1936. On a collection of fish from the eastern ghats. Bec. Indian Mus., 40 (3) : 255-264. MISRA, K. S. 1962. An aid to the identification of the common com­ mercial fishes of India and Pakistan. Rec. Indian Mus., 57 (1-4) [1959]: 1-320. PILLAY, T. V. R. 1951. A morphometric and biometric study of the systematics of certain allied species of the genus Barbus Cuv. and and Val. Proc. nat. Inst. Sci. India, 17 (5) : 331-348. RAJ, B. SUNDARA. 1941. Dams and fisheries, Mettur and its lesson for India. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., 14 (B) (4) : 341-358. ]AYARAM : CAUVERY FISHES 115

RAJ, B. SUNDARA, 1941. Two new cyprinid fishes from Travancore, South India, with remarks on Barbu8 (Puntius) micropogon Cuv. & Val. Rec. Indian Mus., 44 (3) : 375-386. RAJAN. S. 1955. Notes on a collection of fish from the headwaters of the Bhavani river, South India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 53 (1) : 44-48. SILAS, E.G. 1951. On a collection of fish from the Anamalai and Nelliam­ pathi Hill Ranges (Western Ghats) with notes on its zoogeogra­ phical significances. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 49 (4) : 670-681. SILAS, E. G. 1951. On a new cyprinid fish from Coorg, South India. J. zool. Soc. India, 3 (1) : 7-10. SILAS, E. G. 1951. Notes on two Homalopterid fishes. J. zool. Soc. India, Calcutta, 3 (1) : 11-17. SILAS, E. G. 1952. Speciation among the freshwater fishes of Ceylon. Bull. No.7, Nat. Inst. Sci. India: 248-259. SILAS E. G. 1952a. Further studies regarding Hora's Satpura hypothesis. 2. Taxonomic assessment and levels of evolutionary divergences of fi~hes with the so called Malayan affinities in Peninsular India. Proc. nat. Inst. India, 18 (5) : 423-448. SILAS, E. G. 1953. New fishes from the Western ghats with notes on Pantius arulius (Jerdon). Rec. Indian Mus., 51 : 27-38, 1 pI. SILAS, E. G. 1953. Notes on fishes from Mahableswar and Wai (Satara district, Bombay State). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 51 (3): 579-589. SILAS, E. G. 1954. Garra hughi, a new Cyprinid fish from the Western Ghats Peninsular India, with notes on its Bionomics. Reo. Indian Mus .• 52, Part-I: 1-14. SILAS, E. G. 1956. The systematic position of the 'Indian cyprinid fish, Oirrhinus fasc1:atus Jerdon (1849), with a new name for Barbus fasciatus Bleeker (1853). Oopeia, 3, p. 194. SILAS, E. G. 1958. Studies on Cyprinid fishes of the Oriental genus Ohela Hamilton. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 55 (1) : 54-99. SPATE, D. H. K. 1957. India and Pakistan. .A. general and regional geog­ ra.phy : 829, London (Methuen & Co.). SREENIVASAN, A. 1980. Limnological survey of Cauvery river system with particular reference to pollution indicators. Final report 1976-79 : 92+ XV, 19 tables N. Delhi (Man & Biosphere progra .. mme, Mimeo). VAN URK, O. 1979. The macrobenthos of the River ljssel. Hydrobiol. Bull. (Amsterdam), Silas. 12, 1 : 21-29.

PLATES PLATE I :\1:ap of River Cauvery and its vnrious branches. R'Ec. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

]AYARAM PLAT!! r

MAP SHOWIN_G THE COURSE OF THE RIVER CAUVERY FROM ITS SOURCE TO SEA

SCAI.E:ONE INC II TO 16 MILES N

SIT£

~EF£R ENCE

"VCftl

, PLATE II

1. River Oauvery at Tiruvalangadu. Fishermen operating the water net. STN. 5. 25. 1. 74. 2. River Vikraman at Tiru\'alangadu. STN. 6. 25. 1. 74. 3. River Cauvery at l\lelaiyur with shutter's in background and fisher­ men operating nets. STN. 7. 26. 1. 74. 4. River Kodamurutty with the suspended wall net for catching fish. STN. 12. 29. 1. 74. 5. View of Nursery pond at Rajagiri T. K. Head. STN. 15. 29. 1. 74. 6. View of River Cauvery and River Arasalar bifurcation. STN. 17. 29. 1. 74. 7. View of Vadavar branching from Coleroon at Lower Anaicut. STN. 20. 30. 1. 74. 8. View of Vadavar downstream at Lower Anaicut. STN. 20. 30. 1. 74. 9. View of Vennar upstream at Vennar-Pamaniyar-Koraiyar regulator. STN. 21. 31. 1. 74. 10. View of Vennar-Pamaniyar-Koraiyar bifurcation with Shri Govindasamy, Tamil Nadu Fisheries official. STN. 22. 81. 1;, 74. 11. View of River Cauvery at Tiruvaiyaru, upstream view. STN. 80. 2.2. 74. 12. View of River Kudamurutty at Kandiyur village~ upstream view. STN.31. 2.2.74. P,E'C. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

)AYARAM PLATE II PLATE III

13. View of River Vettar" downstream view. ST~. 3~. 2. 2.74. 14. View of River Vennar at Palliagraharam. STN. 33. 2. 2. 74. 15. View of River Vada,"ar at Karautl attang'lldi .. downstream view. STN. 34. 2. 2. 74. 16. View of River Oauvery at Grand Anaic'llt.. upstream view. STN. 35. 3. 2. 74. 17. Distant view of river Uyyakondan joining at Grand Anaicut. STN. 3p. 3. 2. 74. 18. View of River Oauvery up3tream view with party at Grand Anaicut. STN.35. 3.2.74. 19. View of River Vennar.. upstream view, at Grand Anaicut. STN.37. 3.2.74. 20. View of River Coleroon .. upstream view, at Grand Anaic-ut. STN. 36. 3. 2. 74. 21. View of River Cauvery and Kudamunltty bifurcation at Thirukattu- palli, downstream view. STN. 40. 3.2. '14. 22. View of River Vennar.. upstream view, at V. V. R. STN. 25. 4.2.74. 2a. View of River Vettar.. upstream view at V. V. R. STN. 26. 4. 2. 74. 24. View of Vennar and Vadavar bifurcation at V. V. R. STN. 26. 4.2.74. R'Ec. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, OCC. PAPE'R No. 36

JAYARAM PLATB III PLATE IV

25. View of South ColeroJn river, upstreanl view, at Vathalai. STN 4~). 6.2.74. 26. Yiew of River Cauycry npstrC:1111 view at :\Iayanur. STN. 48. 7. 2. 74 27. View of River Cauyery at Kulithalai with tonr party. STN. 46. 8.2.74. 28. View of Rh"cr Cauvery, upstrcam, at Kulitbalai. STN. 46. 8.2. 74. 29. View of River Ooleroo11, off Srirangam (Trichy), upstream view. ST N. 44. 9. 2. 74. 30. View of RiYer Cauycry, upstreaUl view, at Pallipalayam. STN. 55. 14. 2. 74. 31. View of the Rh"er Oauyery, upstream, Pallipalayaln, with party Inelubers. STN. 55. 14. 2. 74. 32. View of River Cauyery, upstream, at Bhavani. STN. 56. 16.2.74 33. View of the confluence of the river.;; Oauvery and Bhavani at Bhayani. STN. 56. 16.2. 74. 34. View of River Cauvery at Ammapet, upstream view. 'STN. 62. 18.2.74. 35. View of Ri\"er Cauvery at Periapallam, upstrealn view .. STN.61. 18. 2. 74. 36. View of River Cauvery of Periapallam, downstream view. STN.61. 18. 2. 74. RIc. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

) AYAR AM PLATE IV PLATE V

37. View of the with Dam in tho back-ground. STN.63. 21. 2. 74. 38. View of River Cau\"ery (a channel from Daln) near Dam. STN. 61. 21. 2. 74. 39. A big Catla catla (Ham.) from :\Iettur reser\'oir in the hands of 1\Ir. Egambaraln, a member of tour party.

40. View of River Cauvery, below Hogenaikka,l falls. ST~. 64. 21. 2. 74. ]AYARAM PLATE V PLATE VI

41. Original dry channel of Cauvery as it emerges from the gorge at Talaicauvery~ with Sri Janaki Raman pointing the Channel bed. 42. View of R. Kannige at Bhagamandala. STN. 66. 4,5.77. 43. River Cauvery aftel! its confiuenze with Kannige, at Bhagamanda.la, STN.65. 4. 5. 77. 44. Ri Jer Cauve1:Y at Kudige dowpstream. STN. 68. 5. 5 ..7.7.

45. River Harangi at Kudige~ upstream view. STN. 67. 5. 5. 77. 46. River Harangi at Kudige, downstream view. STN. 67. 5. 5.77. REC. ZOO'L.SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAP,ER No. 36

JA1'ARAM PLATE VI

,. e •. _.~_ . •--~- -.- ----..-..1

I PLATE VII

47. Rh'er Hemayathy at Hole Narsipur, upstream view. STN. 71. ~. 5. 77. 48. River Hemavathy at S. R. D. Ratte near Hole·Narsipur. STN. 73. 7. 5. 77. 49. River Henlavathy at S. R. D. Ratte downstream view. STN. 73. 7. 5. 77: lSO. View of falls at S. R. D. Katte. near Hole Narsipur. STN. 73. 7. 5. 77. 01. Fishing in the reservoir below the falls at S. R.D. Katte. STN 73., 7. 5. 77.

52. View of Falls at S. R. D. Katte with Eri Janaki Raman, Ponnura~ gam and Karnataka State Fishery official. ST.N. 78. 7. 5. 77. R:£c. ZOOL. SuaVe INDIA, OCC. r)APER No. 36

JAYAMM PLATE VII PLATE VIII

53. The perennial spri!lg at TaLdcauvery from where' the Cauvery is supposed to emerbe. 54. River Cauvery at Srirangapatnam. STN. 78. 18. 5. 77. 55. River Cauvery at Shivasalnudram falls. SrN. 84. 18. 5. 77. 56. River Cauvery at Dasanpura, Kollegal taluq. STN. 85. 12. 5. 77. 57. Cauvery river at Chikalul, Karnataka. STN. 89. 18. 5. 77. 58. Scrub jungle forest on wa.y to Cauvery near Chikaur. STN. 89. 13. 5. 77. ~EC. ZOOL. SURV. tNDIA, OCC. PAPER No. 36

JAYARAM PLATE VIII

- ~. . .. -. '" ''' --- PLATE IX

A.. l.legalops cY1winoides (Broussonet) B. Anguilla bicolor bicolor l\IcClelland C. Anguilla benJalensis bengalensis (Gray & Hardwicka) R£c. zoot. SURV. INDIA, Oce. PAPER No. 36

PLATE IX JAYARAM PLATE X

A. Garra 'mullya (Sykes) B. Lepidocephalus t hermalis (Val.) C. Silon:ia. cllildreni Sykes REC.ZQOL,. SURV. INDIA, Oce,. PAPER No,. 36

J AYARA~t PLATE X PLATE XI

A. Salmost01na acinaces (Val.) B. Salmostoma clupeoides (Bloch) C. Sal'l1lOstoma untrahi (Day) D. An~blypharyngodon '1nelettina (Val.) ltEc.zOOL. SURV. INDIA:, 'Oce. PAIJER No. 36

JAYARAM PLATE XI PLATE XII

A. Caras')illS carassius Nilsson B. ClIprinus ern"pio carpio Linn. REC. ZOOL. SURV. INDIA, Occ. PAPER No. 36

JAYARAM PLATE XII